Privacy is the number one reason Philadelphia-area homeowners call us. Not curb appeal. Not security. They want a backyard they can use: cookouts, kids, dogs, and quiet Sunday mornings that stay quiet. Privacy fence installation is the core of our residential business, and we’ve been doing it across Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Philadelphia Counties since 1980.
We don’t install prefab panels off a truck. Every wood privacy fence we build is cut and assembled in our own shop in Glenside before it arrives at your property. That means precise fits and clean lines, even on sloped or uneven lots.
Wood and vinyl are the two materials we recommend most for residential privacy fencing.
Cedar is the standard for a reason. It’s naturally rot-resistant, holds stain well, and improves in character as it ages. Our most popular residential product is a custom wood privacy fence built from western red cedar, fabricated in our Glenside woodshop and installed by our own crew.
Style options include solid board, shadowbox, and tongue and groove. Tongue and groove gives the best sound insulation, worth knowing if you’re near a busy road or a noisy area. Shadowbox allows airflow while still blocking sightlines from most angles.
Cedar requires maintenance. Staining every few years protects the wood from moisture and keeps the grain looking clean. We offer biannual staining and maintenance services if you’d rather not manage that yourself.
Vinyl is the low-maintenance choice. No need for painting or staining, and no spring inspection ritual. It holds its color and its shape through Philadelphia winters. It comes in multiple colors and heights and looks sharp for years after installation.
It’s the right call for homeowners who want solid privacy without the upkeep commitment cedar requires. The tradeoff: vinyl is manufactured to standard dimensions, so there’s less room for custom design work compared to wood.
Some homeowners come to us with a specific design: something they found on Pinterest, a style that matches their home’s architecture, or a lot with grades and corners needing a solution that a standard panel can’t provide. That’s where our woodshop matters most.
Our carpenters work from your property’s measurements and your design goals, not a catalog. If you have a reference image or a design in mind, bring it.
Privacy fence cost varies more than most people expect. The range between a basic installation and fully custom build can be significant.
Material is the biggest factor. Wood and vinyl sit at different price points, and within wood, the style and grade of cedar affect cost. Height matters too: a 6-foot fence uses more material than a 4-foot fence, and most homeowners want 6 feet for privacy.
Linear footage is the straightforward one: more fence = higher cost. But terrain can complicate it. A yard with slopes, tree roots, or drainage issues takes more time and labor to fence correctly than a flat lot. Gate count and gate style add cost as well. A basic wood gate has a different price point than an automated aluminum entry gate.
Permits are a real cost too. We pull them for you across every county we serve, but the fees vary by municipality and they’re part of your total project number.
Bottom line: we don’t publish ranges because they mislead more than they help. One free estimate gives you an accurate number customized for your property. Financing options are available for qualified customers; ask about it when you schedule.
Most homeowners want to know two things before they start: how tall can my fence be, and do I need a permit?
Across most Philadelphia-area municipalities, the general limit is 6 feet in the backyard and 4 feet in the front. Six feet is the height most homeowners ask for, and for good reason: it blocks a standing sightline from a few feet away. That said, township codes vary. Corner lots, driveways, and setback distances from property lines all have their own rules depending on where you live.
Most municipalities do require a permit for fence installation, and the process can slow a project down if it isn’t started early. We pull permits across Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Philadelphia Counties as part of every job. You don’t need to sort through municipal code or make calls to the township. We’ve done this thousands of times across every market we serve.
Most fence companies arrive with stock panels and adapt on-site. We build your fence first, then bring it to you. Custom wood privacy fences are cut and assembled in our Glenside workshop to your property’s measurements. What arrives is designed specifically for your yard.
Every installer on your job is an Everlasting employee. You meet the team before a post goes in the ground.
A solid board or tongue and groove wood fence give you the most complete visual barrier. No gaps, no sightlines, Tongue and groove also provides the best sound reduction of any fence style, which matters if you’re near a road or a busy area. Solid vinyl panel fencing is a close second and requires less maintenance over time.
A solid privacy fence has boards installed flush against each other with no gaps, giving you complete visual coverage from any angle. A shadowbox fence alternates boards on either side of the rail, which allows airflow and looks the same from both sides. It isn’t truly gapless, and from a direct angle you’ll see through it slightly. Both are popular. Which one fits you depends on whether full visual coverage or airflow matters more.
Western red cedar averages 15 to 20 years with regular maintenance: staining every two to three years and keeping the base clear of soil contact. The posts are the first thing to go if they’re not set correctly or treated. We make sure ours are done right.
Yes. Vinyl privacy panels are solid with no gaps, no warping over time, and no view through the fence. They come in several heights and colors. The tradeoff compared to wood is design flexibility. Vinyl is manufactured to standard dimensions, so custom sizing or style work isn’t as easy as it is with cedar.
In most cases, yes, provided the fence sits on your property and meets your township’s height and setback requirements. Pennsylvania doesn’t have a statewide fence law; the rules come from local ordinances. It’s considered good practice to notify neighbors before installing, but it’s not typically a legal requirement. If there’s any question about your property line, a survey before installation is the right call.
We’re based in Glenside and install privacy fences throughout the greater Philadelphia area: Montgomery County, Bucks County, Delaware County, Chester County, the city of Philadelphia, and the Main Line. Not sure if we cover your area?
Give us a call at (800) 655-3798
Everlasting Fence has been installing privacy fences across the Philadelphia area for over 40 years. The estimate is free, the crew is ours, and the fence we build will still be standing long after we’re gone. Tell us what you’re trying to solve and we’ll tell you what it takes to get there.
