Cedar or pine?
Cedar resists rot and insects naturally, stays straighter, and weathers to silver-gray if you leave it unstained. It costs more. Pressure-treated pine costs less up front and holds up well when sealed, but it tends to warp and check (split along the grain) as it dries. For posts, many Texas fence builders now use galvanized steel under wood pickets, because wood posts are the first thing to rot at ground level.
Styles to know
- Side-by-side pickets. The standard. Boards butt together, and small gaps open up as they dry.
- Board-on-board. Overlapping pickets on alternating sides, so there are no gaps even after shrinkage. Costs more and gives full privacy.
- Good-neighbor or shadowbox. Looks finished from both sides. Some HOAs ask for this or require the finished side to face out.
- Horizontal. A modern look. Usually needs closer post spacing or a steel frame to keep boards straight.
- Rot board and cap. A horizontal board at the bottom keeps pickets off the dirt, and a top cap and trim shed water and stiffen the fence.
How tall can it be?
Six feet is the usual height. Inside New Braunfels city limits, fences can go up to 8 feet in side and back yards, but a fence over 7 feet needs a building permit. In a front yard, a solid wood fence is limited to 36 inches. See the rules.
What a wood privacy fence costs
Fence Advisors' 2026 Texas guide puts a standard cedar privacy fence in the San Antonio metro at $24 to $40 per linear foot installed, and board-on-board cedar at $28 to $45. HomeGuide lists a 6-foot wood privacy fence at $25 to $50 per foot nationally. For a 150-foot backyard, $24 to $40 a foot works out to about $3,600 to $6,000 before gates.
Keeping it looking good in Texas sun
UV and heat dry wood out fast. Sealing or staining every few years slows graying, checking and warping. Keep sprinklers from soaking the pickets, keep soil and mulch off the bottom boards, and fix leaning posts early, before they pull the rails apart.
Common questions
Is cedar worth the extra cost over pine?
If you want less warping and natural rot resistance, usually yes. Pine can last well too if it's sealed and kept off the ground. Steel posts help either one.
Can I build an 8-foot privacy fence in New Braunfels?
In side and rear yards inside city limits, the maximum fence height is 8 feet. Any fence over 7 feet needs a building permit. Check your HOA rules too.
Should the nice side face my neighbor?
Many people and many HOAs put the finished side facing out, toward the street or neighbor. A good-neighbor or board-on-board style looks finished on both sides.