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Privacy Fence Installation in Athens, AL
Six and eight foot privacy fencing built to HOA finished-side rules, with a free estimate before any work starts.
- Free on-site estimate, price in writing
- Posts set below the frost line in concrete
- Final walkthrough on every job
Prefer to talk? Call (256) 510-8095
Get your free estimate
We measure at your property and put the price in writing. No charge, no obligation.
A privacy fence answers one question: can anyone see through it? Height, board layout and what the gaps do as the wood dries all decide the answer, and you settle all three before a single post goes in. Material choice matters too, and the wood fencing and vinyl fencing pages cover that ground.
Six foot or eight foot?
Six foot is the standard, and it screens a seated patio plus most of a standing sightline from a neighboring yard on the same grade. Six foot is also where Athens permitting changes. The City generally requires a zoning permit above that height, or for any fence in a front yard, so confirm the current rules with the Building Department before you order material.
Eight foot earns its place when the house next door sits higher, when a second story window looks straight down into your yard, or when a road backs onto the line. It catches more wind, so the posts get heavier and the footings go deeper.
How much privacy each style gives you
| Style | Screening | Same both sides? | In wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadowbox | Blocks the direct view, angled gaps pass some light | Yes | Best. Air moves through it |
| Board on board | Full, and holds as boards shrink | No | Solid face, catches wind |
| Board and batten | Full, battens cover the seams | No | Solid face, catches wind |
| Butted picket | Full at first, opens as wood dries | No | Solid face, catches wind |
| Vinyl privacy panel | Full, nothing shrinks | Yes | Solid face, wants reinforced rails on long runs |
The gap problem nobody warns you about
Build a solid picket fence from wood that has not dried and it opens up on you. We fit the boards tight, the wood sheds moisture through the first summer, every board narrows a fraction, and the fence that stood solid in May shows daylight by September. Board on board and board and batten overlap enough to swallow that movement, which is why they hold their privacy where a plain butted run loses it.
HOA rules and the finished side
Most subdivision covenants around Athens and Madison have something to say about which way your fence faces. The usual rule: the finished side, the one with no rails or posts showing, faces out toward the street or your neighbor. Shadowbox ends that argument before it starts, because both sides look the same.
HOA approval and a city permit are two separate hurdles. Clear one and it does nothing for the other. Our guide to HOA fence approval covers what boards ask for.
What a privacy fence costs
Privacy runs cost more per foot than picket or ranch rail, because they eat far more board. What drives your number:
- Height, with eight foot carrying heavier posts and deeper footings on top of the extra lumber.
- Style. Board on board can use close to double the boards of a butted picket run.
- Material, pressure treated pine, cedar or vinyl.
- Gates, tearing out the old fence, grade and access.
We measure the line at your property and put the price in writing before anything gets ordered.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a privacy fence be in Athens, AL?
Six feet is the standard and generally the line before a zoning permit comes into it. Above six feet, or any fence in a front yard, usually needs a permit from the City of Athens Building Department. Confirm the current rules before you order material.
Which side of the fence faces my neighbor?
Most covenants want the finished side, the one with no rails or posts showing, facing out. Shadowbox sidesteps the question because both sides look the same.
Why did my privacy fence develop gaps?
Boards fitted while still damp shrink as they dry, and a butted picket run opens up over its first year. Board on board and board and batten overlap enough that shrinkage never opens a sightline.
How much does a privacy fence cost?
More per foot than a picket or rail fence, because it eats far more board. Height, style, material, gates and ground all set the figure, and we price it after walking your line.
Related: Wood Fencing | Vinyl Fencing | Fence Cost | HOA Fence Approval
How a privacy fencing job runs
Want the yard screened properly?
Call (256) 510-8095 or request a free estimate online.