If you’re thinking about putting up a wood fence on your Memphis property, you’ve got a lot of options and a fair amount to consider before the first post goes in the ground. Wood fencing is one of the most popular choices in the Mid-South, and for good reason. It’s affordable, it looks good, and when it’s installed right, it holds up through years of Tennessee summers and storm seasons. At 5 Ash Construction, we install wood fences across Memphis, Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, and the surrounding area. Here’s an honest look at what the process involves.
Choosing the Right Wood
Not all wood fencing is built the same. The two most common options you’ll see in Memphis are pressure-treated pine and cedar. Pressure-treated pine is the more budget-friendly choice and handles moisture well because it’s chemically treated to resist rot and insects. Cedar costs more upfront but is naturally resistant to rot and tends to look better over time if you want to stain or seal it. Both are solid choices. What matters most is the quality of the boards and how well the fence is installed, not just which species you pick.
Privacy fencing typically uses dog-ear boards, which are the standard flat-top boards you see on most residential fences. Picket styles are also common if you want something more open. Board-on-board is a popular option when you want full privacy without the fence looking flat, since the boards overlap and cover any gaps that appear as the wood dries and contracts.
What the Installation Process Looks Like
The first step is always marking property lines. Before we dig a single hole, you need to know exactly where your property ends and your neighbor’s begins. If you don’t have a recent survey, it’s worth getting one. A fence installed even a foot over the property line can become a serious problem down the road.
Once lines are confirmed, we’ll walk the layout with you and talk through gate placement, fence height, and any grade changes in the yard. Memphis lots aren’t always flat, and stepping or racking the fence to follow the slope makes a big difference in how the finished product looks.
Post holes are typically dug to a depth of about one third of the post height, plus a few inches for gravel drainage at the bottom. Posts are set in concrete and allowed to cure before the rails and boards go on. Rushing that step is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners run into with DIY fences, and it leads to leaning posts within a year or two.
How Long Does It Last?
A well-built wood fence in the Memphis climate will typically last 10 to 20 years with basic maintenance. The main things that shorten a fence’s life are posts sitting in standing water, boards that never dry out because of poor air circulation, and skipping stain or sealant on untreated wood. We recommend sealing or staining cedar fences within the first year and re-applying every few years after that. Pressure-treated pine is more forgiving, but a coat of sealant still helps.
Cost Factors to Know
Fencing is priced by the linear foot, and the total cost depends on fence height, material grade, how much gate hardware is involved, and the difficulty of the terrain. A fence on a flat lot with a simple layout is going to be more straightforward than one that needs to navigate slopes, trees, or tight access points. The best way to get an accurate number is to have someone walk the property with you.
Ready to Get a Quote?
5 Ash Construction handles fence installation across the Memphis metro, including Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Olive Branch, and Southaven. If you’re ready to talk through your project, give us a call or reach out through our contact page. We’ll come take a look at the property and give you a straight answer on what it’s going to take.
