Six ways to fence a Portland yard.

Western red cedar is still the Portland favorite, and for good reason — it's naturally rot- and insect-resistant, takes stain beautifully, and gives you full sightline privacy from a nosy street or a close-set neighbor. We build good-neighbor (the finished side faces both yards) and board-on-board styles, in 6' and 8' heights, with 4x4 posts set in concrete below Oregon's frost line so the line stays straight through wet winters. Most cedar privacy runs land in the $45–$75-per-linear-foot range once you factor in height, gate count, and how much grading the yard needs.

Horizontal cedar slats read as more architectural — a good match for newer builds in Sellwood, Alberta, and the close-in eastside. We mill clear or #1-grade cedar into consistent-width boards with tight, even reveals, and finish with a semi-transparent stain that lets the grain show instead of hiding it. It's the same structural post-and-rail system as our vertical cedar fences underneath — the difference is entirely in the face.

Powder-coated steel (we also install aluminum for a lighter-weight, lower-cost option) gives you a fence line you can see through — good for a front yard, a pool enclosure, or anywhere you want security without turning the yard into a box. Panels come in classic spear-top, flat-top, and puppy-picket (tighter pickets near the ground) styles, finished in black, bronze, or a custom color, and every gate gets a self-closing hinge and latch if you're fencing a pool.

Vinyl privacy and picket fencing never needs staining, painting, or sealing — it's the fence you install once and mostly forget about. We use commercial-grade vinyl (thicker wall than the big-box-store kits) in white or a driftwood tan, with aluminum-reinforced bottom rails on privacy panels so they don't bow over time the way lighter vinyl can. It's a strong fit for pool surrounds and rental properties where low maintenance matters more than a custom look.

Galvanized chain-link is still the most economical way to fence a large lot, a dog run, or a commercial site, and black-vinyl-coated chain-link dresses it up considerably for a residential yard without adding much to the cost. We set steel line posts in concrete, tension the mesh properly so it doesn't sag at the top rail, and can add privacy slats later if you want to soften the view without replacing the fence.

A fence is only as good as its gates and its weakest post — we build custom walk gates and drive gates (including double gates for RVs and boats) to match any fence style, with heavy-duty hinges and latches sized to the gate's actual weight. We also repair storm-damaged sections, replace rotted posts, and restain or reseal cedar fences that have gone gray, usually in a single day for a typical residential job.