# Wood Fence Installation in Johns Creek, GA > Wood fences in Johns Creek, GA: pressure-treated pine and cedar, board-on-board, shadowbox and picket, posts set for clay and termites, and typical prices. URL: https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/wood-fence-installation/ Service Pressure-treated pine and cedar fences in board-on-board, shadowbox, stockade and picket styles, with posts set to last in north Fulton clay. Call (678) 509-2926 Last Updated: November 5, 2026 - **Permit** Johns Creek requires a fence permit for new fences and for replacing an existing one. - **HOA** The city does not enforce subdivision covenants, so HOA approval is a separate step. - **Digging** Georgia 811 must be called before digging with powered equipment, including a gas auger. - **Soil** Most Johns Creek yards sit on Piedmont soils with clay subsoil; some areas are stony. - **Finished side** The zoning code calls for the finished side to face the neighbor (confirm with the city). [Upright Johns Creek Fencing](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/) installs wood fences across Johns Creek and north Fulton, from 6-foot privacy fences on rear lot lines to picket fences along front gardens, with the work done by licensed and insured fencing contractors. Wood is the most common fence material in Johns Creek backyards: it costs less to install than vinyl or aluminum, it can be repaired one board at a time, and it is what most HOAs expect on a rear property line. How long a wood fence lasts here is decided mostly by what happens below the boards. The posts meet wet clay, mulch and termites at the soil line, and that is where wood fences fail. A wood fence built to last is built from the posts up. ## What happens on the first visit The visit walks and measures the line, marks corners and gates, and checks the grade where the yard falls toward a creek or swale. It covers the style and height your HOA allows, which side of the fence will face the neighbor, and how the fence handles any slope. Trees close to the line are noted, both because roots change where posts can go and because protected trees in Johns Creek need city permission to remove. The estimate lists the posts, the style, the height, the gates and the [Johns Creek permit](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/johns-creek-fence-permit/), with tear-out of any old fence as a separate line. ## Posts built for clay and termites Wood fence posts fail at the soil line. On clay subsoil, a hole filled with plain soil holds water around the post after every rain, and the wood stays wet exactly where decay and termites do the most damage. Posts are rated for ground contact, set on a gravel base so water drains away from the bottom, and finished with concrete crowned above grade so water runs off rather than collecting against the wood. Mulch and soil are kept off the bottom of the fence, and sprinklers are aimed away from the boards. Post size and depth follow the fence. A 6-foot solid privacy fence catches far more wind than a 4-foot picket, so its posts are heavier, deeper and closer together. Corner, end and gate posts carry more load and are set accordingly. The [post depth guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/how-deep-should-fence-posts-be/) explains how those decisions are made on Piedmont soils and stony ground. ## Pine or cedar Pressure-treated southern yellow pine is the standard fence lumber here. Treatment protects it from decay and insects, and it takes stain well once it has dried. Cedar resists decay naturally, is lighter and more stable, and weathers to a silver gray if left unstained; it costs more. Many fences combine the two, with treated posts in the ground and cedar boards above. Fasteners matter with treated lumber, because the treatment chemicals corrode ordinary steel. Hot-dip galvanized or stainless fasteners are used so boards do not loosen and stain around rusting nails. ## Choosing a style Board-on-board overlaps boards on one side of the rails, so there are no gaps even after the wood shrinks. It gives the most privacy and catches the most wind. Shadowbox alternates boards on each side of the rails; it looks the same from both yards, lets some air through and you can see through it at an angle. Stockade is the simplest privacy style, with boards side by side, and gaps open as the boards dry. Picket fences mark a boundary rather than screen a yard and suit front gardens. The Johns Creek zoning code calls for the finished side of a fence along a property line to face the neighboring property (confirm with the city). Board-on-board and shadowbox look finished from both sides, which is one reason they are popular on shared rear lines. The [board-on-board vs shadowbox guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/board-on-board-vs-shadowbox/) compares them in detail, and the [privacy fence page](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/privacy-fence-installation/) covers height and wind. ## Gates in a wood fence Wood gates sag when they hang on undersized posts or have no brace. Each gate gets hinge and latch posts set deeper than line posts, a diagonal brace that runs from the bottom of the hinge side up toward the latch side’s top corner so it holds the gate up, and hardware rated for the gate’s weight. Wide openings use double gates with a drop rod and stop, and very wide or heavy gates may need a steel post or frame. More on gates is on the [gate installation page](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/gate-installation/). ## Staining and upkeep New treated lumber is often wet from treatment, so stain is applied once the wood can absorb it, frequently a few months after installation. After that, a stain every few years protects the boards from sun and water and keeps the color even; fences in full sun need it more often than fences in shade. Stain protects boards; it cannot fix a post that is already soft. The [staining page](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/fence-staining/) and the guide to [when to stain a new fence](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/when-to-stain-a-new-fence/) cover timing and products. ## What a wood fence costs A 6-foot wood privacy fence typically runs about $20 to $30 per foot installed in the Atlanta area, before gates, tear-out and the $75 Johns Creek residential permit. Board-on-board, 8-foot heights and cedar push toward the high end; long straight runs on easy ground sit toward the low end. The [fence cost guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/fence-installation-cost/) shows how a full estimate adds up, and the [wood vs vinyl guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/wood-vs-vinyl-fence/) compares the long-term picture. ## Wood on a sloped yard Many Johns Creek backyards fall toward a creek or a drainage swale. Wood handles slopes well because it is built on site: rails can follow the grade so the fence racks smoothly, or sections can stay level and step down at each post. Racking keeps the bottom close to the ground, which matters for dogs; stepping keeps the top line level, which some HOAs prefer, but leaves triangular gaps under each section that may need a kickboard or a gravel strip. On steep grades, posts are longer on the downhill side to keep the fence at its full height. The [slope guide](https://uprightjohnscreekfencing.com/guide/fence-on-a-slope/) compares both methods. ## What's included - Layout and site plan for the permit and HOA - Ground-contact rated posts in concrete with drainage under each - Rails, boards and any cap or trim for the chosen style - Gates with braces, hinges and latches sized for them - Fasteners rated for treated lumber - Cleanup and a walkthrough, with advice on when to stain ## Common wood fence styles compared | | Board-on-board | Shadowbox | Stockade | Picket | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Privacy | Full, no gaps after shrinkage | Most, see-through at an angle | Full when new; gaps as boards shrink | Little; marks a boundary | | Looks the same from both sides | Close | Yes | No | Close | | Wind load on posts | High | Moderate | High | Low | | Lumber per foot | Most | Less than board-on-board | Least for privacy | Least | | Common use here | Rear privacy fences | Shared rear lines | Budget privacy | Front yards, gardens | ## Related resources Learn How long does a wood fence last? There is no single number. A wood fence lasts as long as its posts hold at the soil line, and that depends far more on how they were set than on the boards. Decision Guide Board on board vs shadowbox fence: what's the difference? Board-on-board overlaps boards for full privacy; shadowbox alternates them for a look that is the same from both yards and lets air through. Decision Guide Wood vs vinyl fence: which is better in Georgia? Wood costs less to install and repairs easily; vinyl skips staining but cracks on impact and is not allowed everywhere nearby. The right answer depends on your lot. Learn When should you stain a new fence? As soon as the wood is dry enough to absorb it, and not before. New pressure-treated pine arrives wet, so it usually needs weeks to months to dry out first. Learn How deep should fence posts be? Deep enough to resist the load the fence puts on them. Height, wind, gates and the soil all change the answer, so posts on one fence are not all the same depth. ## From the first call to the last gate check ### First call What the fence is for, how long the line is, any HOA or pool deadline. ### Site visit and measure The line, grade, gates, trees, utilities and the soil. ### Approvals and locates HOA packet, Johns Creek permit and the Georgia 811 request. ### Installation Posts first, then rails, boards or panels, then gates. ### Walkthrough Gates swung and latched, line checked, debris gone. ## What this work looks like Close view of a board-on-board pine privacy fence with a cap rail Shadowbox wood fence with boards alternating on each side of the rails Wood gate with a diagonal brace running up from the bottom hinge corner to the latch side White painted wood picket fence along a front garden Planning a wood fence? Tell us the length, the height and the style you have in mind; your HOA's rules help too. Call (678) 509-2926 ## Wood fences questions ### Is pressure-treated pine or cedar better for a fence here? Pressure-treated pine is the most common and costs less; cedar resists decay naturally and weathers to gray. For posts in the ground, ground-contact rated treated lumber is the usual choice either way, because the post base is what fails first. ### How long should I wait to stain a new pressure-treated fence? Until the wood is dry enough to absorb stain, often a few months. Sprinkle water on a board: if it soaks in, it is ready; if it beads, wait. Cedar and kiln-dried lumber can usually be finished sooner. ### What is the best wood fence style for privacy? Board-on-board gives the most privacy because overlapping boards leave no gaps even after the wood shrinks. Shadowbox gives most of the privacy and looks the same from both sides, with some airflow. ### Do wood fence posts need concrete? In Johns Creek clay, posts are set in concrete over a gravel base so water drains away from the wood, and the concrete is crowned at the top. A post set in plain clay sits in water after rain and rots sooner. ### Can a wood fence be 8 feet tall in Johns Creek? The Johns Creek zoning code allows fences up to 8 feet from grade in residential districts (confirm with the city). Your HOA may set a lower limit, and an 8-foot solid fence needs heavier posts and deeper footings for the wind load. ## Related services Service Privacy fences 6 and 8 foot privacy fences in wood, vinyl and composite, built for the wind a solid fence catches and the rules your HOA sets. Service Fence staining Cleaning, stain and sealer for new and weathered wood fences, timed for the wood and the weather. Service Gates Walk, double and driveway gates hung on posts sized for them, braced to stay square and set back where the code says.