Wood Fence Installation in West Michigan
A wood fence is one of those things that looks great when it’s done right and shows every shortcut when it isn’t. At Fence Brothers, we’ve been building cedar and pine fences across West Michigan since 2013 — and the difference in how we source and install comes through in how long they last. Posts go in below the frost line, everything is built on-site piece by piece, and permits, utility locates, and HOA review are all handled before we start digging. Unlike most of our competitors, our five-year workmanship warranty covers wood.
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Whether you’re planning a residential fence, or just exploring your options, we’ll help you understand what makes sense for your property, your goals, and your budget.
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Current Project Start
About 2 weeks
Next Available Estimate
Within 48 hours
Local Permit Wait Time
About 2 weeks (if necessary)
The Wood We Use — and Why It Matters
Cedar is our standard material for privacy fences, and the reason comes down to how it handles Michigan’s climate. Cedar contains natural oils that resist moisture, rot, and insects without needing chemical treatment — which matters when boards are sitting close to wet ground through shoulder seasons. A properly maintained cedar fence in West Michigan typically lasts 20 to 30 years or more.
The pickets we install are just under three-quarters of an inch thick — noticeably heavier than the standard you’ll find from most fence companies. That extra material holds up better to wind and the expansion-and-contraction cycle that comes with Michigan winters, and it keeps pickets from cupping or splitting over time.
Eastern White Cedar
Cedar is our standard material for privacy fences, and the reason comes down to how it handles Michigan’s climate. Cedar contains natural oils that resist moisture, rot, and insects without needing chemical treatment — which matters when boards are sitting close to wet ground through shoulder seasons. A properly maintained cedar fence in West Michigan typically lasts 20 to 30 years or more.
The pickets we install are just under three-quarters of an inch thick — noticeably heavier than the standard you’ll find from most fence companies. That extra material holds up better to wind and the expansion-and-contraction cycle that comes with Michigan winters, and it keeps pickets from cupping or splitting over time.
Pressure-Treated Pine
When budget is the main consideration, pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine is a solid choice. It’s denser than cedar, holds stain well, and when the right grade of lumber is used for the posts — the kind rated for direct ground contact — it lasts 15 to 20 years with regular cleaning and an occasional sealant refresh.
One detail that affects long-term performance is the fasteners. Treated lumber requires galvanized or stainless steel screws and nails — standard hardware corrodes when it contacts the preservatives in treated wood, and that corrosion works its way through faster than most homeowners expect. We don’t substitute on fasteners.
We also only install lumber that has been dried before it arrives on your property. Wood that still holds excess moisture from the mill will shrink after the fence is up, and shrinkage shows up as gaps between pickets that weren’t part of the design. Dried lumber holds its dimensions.
WHAT WE INSTALL
Wood Fence Styles We Install
The right style depends on what you’re trying to accomplish — privacy, curb appeal, pet containment, HOA compliance, or some combination. We build every style below on-site, which means the layout follows your yard rather than a manufacturer’s panel grid.
Dog-Ear Privacy
The most common residential style — six-foot cedar or pine with angled top corners on each picket. It works well for backyard privacy, pet containment, and pool enclosure requirements in most townships. Clean, simple, and built to hold up without looking dated.
Board-on-Board
Pickets stagger on both sides of the rail, with no gaps and no light through. Because both faces are finished, the traditional “good side out” requirement disappears — something worth knowing if your fence runs along a shared property line. The look is a step above standard dog-ear, and it uses more lumber per linear foot to achieve it.
Shadowbox
Alternating pickets create a layered visual effect from either angle. Like board-on-board, it presents well from both sides, making it a good fit for shared lot lines where both homeowners care about the finished appearance. The spacing between pickets also allows some airflow, which can matter for longer runs exposed to strong winds.
Horizontal Cedar
Boards run horizontally between posts rather than vertically. This style is popular in newer Forest Hills and East Grand Rapids builds where the architecture leans modern and clean lines matter. It requires tighter post spacing and more structural framing than a standard vertical fence — not every contractor takes it on. We do.
Spaced Picket, Scallop, and Custom
Spaced picket fences work well for front yards where local ordinances limit solid fencing to three or four feet. Scalloped tops add a decorative element to longer runs. We also build custom combinations — cedar with black aluminum accents, horizontal-and-vertical mixed panels, integrated trellis sections. If you have a specific look in mind and can describe it, we can build it on-site.
Driveway Gates
Single-leaf or bi-parting, manual or automated. Gate posts get deeper footings, more concrete, and added reinforcement on wider spans. We’re one of the few West Michigan companies that handles custom wood driveway gates with operators from start to finish — design, framing, hardware, and automation included.
How We Install a Wood Fence
Posts Below the Frost Line
Michigan’s frost line sits at 42 inches below grade, and state building code sets that as the minimum depth for permanent fence posts. Posts installed above that depth tend to shift as the ground freezes and thaws through winter, which is why you see leaning fences along neighbourhood streets by April. We set posts at or below that depth on every project — no exceptions based on how quickly a crew wants to finish a run.
Our standard: posts go in at a minimum of one-third of their total length below grade, or below the frost line, whichever requires going deeper. In practice, we often go further depending on what the soil tells us at that location.
Soil Makes a Difference
Sandy, well-draining soil toward Holland behaves very differently from the heavier clay around Kentwood and Caledonia, and the right installation approach changes with it. In sandy ground, driven posts can hold well. In clay-heavy soil, we dig and pour concrete footings — clay grips concrete differently than it grips a driven post, and that grip matters when the ground shifts through a hard winter. We evaluate each post location on-site rather than applying a single method across the whole run.
Gate posts get a heavier treatment regardless of soil — deeper holes, more concrete, and added reinforcement on gates wider than five feet.
Rails and Fasteners
Our rails are cut from actual two-by-four lumber — not the slightly smaller size that most fence companies use and label the same way. Post spacing runs between six and eight feet, with eight feet as the absolute maximum to prevent any flexing in the rail over time.
Pickets are attached with nails specifically designed to grip as wood expands and contracts through the seasons. Standard smooth nails can work loose over time as wood moves — the type we use is engineered to hold its position.
Concrete cures for 24 to 48 hours before we attach rails. Gate hardware isn’t loaded until the concrete has had a full week to reach full strength.
MISS DIG — Required Before Any Digging
Michigan law requires any digging project to notify the state’s utility locate service at least 72 hours in advance. We make that call on every project, confirm the locates on-site, and adjust post placement around anything flagged before the auger touches the ground. You don’t coordinate with the utility companies — we do.
Why We Build On-Site
Most fence companies work with pre-fabricated panels — sections built at a factory, delivered by truck, and screwed to posts. It’s faster for the crew, but the results tend to show it within a few years.
Factory panels are built to standard dimensions at fixed spacing, designed to go up quickly across level ground — which rarely describes an actual yard. Grade changes, tree roots, irregular lot lines — these all require adjustment that a panel can’t accommodate. When a pre-fab fence meets uneven terrain, it shows in the gaps and the way the line follows the ground.
We frame every fence on-site. Crews cut pickets to follow grade changes mid-run. Posts are set to your actual property, not a panel grid. The material is heavier than panel stock — both the rails and the pickets — and it’s sourced and finished to our own specification. That’s why a fence we built ten or fifteen years ago still holds its shape when a panel fence three blocks away is already showing twisted rails and warped boards.
Our 5-Year Workmanship Warranty
Our workmanship warranty covers post movement, picket separation, rail attachment, and structural issues that trace back to how the fence was installed — on every fence we build, including wood. Most fence companies in West Michigan either exclude wood from their warranty entirely or limit it to a year. We stand behind our installs for five.
If something moves, shifts, or works loose, you call us and we come back — it’s a straightforward process, not a negotiation. Manufacturer warranties on hardware like hinges, latches, and gate operators pass through to you at full term, and we handle any coordination with the supplier on your behalf.
The full list of what is and isn’t covered is documented in the warranty packet we leave with you at final walkthrough.
Two reviews that say it plainly — from Jennifer K. in Jenison: “Responded fast, willing to negotiate and work things out. We’re really happy with their service.” From Joey C.: “Quality of work was top-notch, and the project was completed smoothly from start to finish. I would absolutely use them again.”
Permits, HOA Review, and Utility Locates — All Handled
Paperwork is the part of a fence project that trips most homeowners up. We take it off your plate entirely — you sign the forms, and we handle everything else.
Kentwood Fence Permit Rules
Kentwood requires a permit for any fence taller than 30 inches. The fee is $50 for a standard residential permit, or $150 if the City Engineer needs to review the application. The maximum residential height is six feet. Front yards are limited to three feet for solid fencing or four feet for open or decorative styles. Corner lots have their own rules — the street-facing side yard follows the same three-foot solid / four-foot open standard, or a 17-foot setback for anything taller.
A few things worth knowing before you plan:
- No chain link or wire fencing in any residential front yard or street-facing side yard
- The finished side of the fence must face the nearest property line
- No fences in floodways; drainage easements allow chain link only
The full rules are in the Kentwood Fence Standards for Residential Properties and the 2024 Fence Permit Application. If your lot has a drainage easement, the Kentwood FAQs page has guidance on next steps, or you can reach the City Engineering Department at (616) 554-0737 [VERIFY WITH CLIENT — confirm number is current]. We handle that call on your behalf.
Rules Vary by Township
Ada, Cascade, Caledonia, Grand Rapids, Wyoming, Grandville, and Byron Center each set their own fence ordinances. Height limits, setback requirements, and permit thresholds don’t carry over from one township to the next. Before we quote any project, we pull the ordinance for your specific township and verify it against your site plan.
HOA Review
If your subdivision has an HOA — as many do in Ada, East Grand Rapids, Byron Center, and Caledonia — we put together the architectural review application with the materials, dimensions, and elevation drawings your board needs. Where the timeline allows, we run the HOA review and the municipal permit in parallel so you’re not waiting on one before the other can move forward.
5-Year Workmanship Warranty
Every picket is fastened with hot-dipped galvanized ring-shank nails that won’t back out through Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycles. If you want to see what that looks like on your property, a free estimate is the first step.
RECENT WORK
Wood Fence Projects in Grand Rapids and West Michigan
What a Wood Fence Costs in West Michigan
Written estimates come after a free site walk, because any number quoted over the phone without seeing your property is a guess. The variables that actually move the price are:
- Linear footage — straight runs cost less per foot than layouts with corners, grade changes, or restricted access
- Material — Eastern White Cedar costs more upfront than pressure-treated pine but typically lasts 5 to 10 years longer
- Style — board-on-board uses more lumber than dog-ear; horizontal cedar requires more structural framing
- Post installation — clay soil requires concrete footings; sandy ground may allow driven posts at lower cost
- Gates — walk gates, double drive gates, and automated gates each carry different hardware costs
- Site conditions — slope, existing vegetation, removal of an old fence, and equipment access all affect the quote
- Permits — Kentwood is $50 or $150; surrounding townships vary
Our material costs are competitive because we buy directly through lumber-industry relationships rather than sourcing through a yard — and we pass that through to the quote.
Financing: Low monthly payments available through Wisetack — quick application, no impact to your credit score to check your rate. Veteran discount available.
WHERE WE WORK
Wood Fence Installation Near Grand Rapids — Areas We Serve
We install wood fences throughout West Michigan. Here are the communities closest to our Grand Rapids wood fence service area:
- Grandville — residential and commercial cedar builds along I-196
- Kentwood — our home base on East Paris Ave; fastest scheduling
- Ada — custom cedar driveway gates and wooded lot privacy fencing
- East Grand Rapids — board-on-board and horizontal cedar on established lots
- Byron Center — cedar privacy on the 84th Street corridor where HOA covenants allow natural wood
- Caledonia — split rail and cedar privacy on M-37 corridor acreage lots
- Holland — Ottawa County cedar fence installations, 45 minutes from the shop
Ready to Get a Wood Fence Estimate?
Getting the right fence starts with seeing the property. Fence Brothers has spent 13 years building wood fences across West Michigan — from Ada to Holland, Rockford to Caledonia — and every project goes in the same way: posts set correctly, materials sourced to hold up, permits and utility locates handled, five-year workmanship warranty included.
We’ll schedule an estimate within 48 hours, and you’ll have a written number before we leave the property — with no pressure to decide on the spot.
Request a Free Estimate
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About Our Fencing Services, Pricing, and Process.
How much does a wood fence cost in West Michigan?
Pricing depends on the material, style, linear footage, number of gates, and your site conditions — we provide written estimates after a free site walk so you have a real number before committing. Eastern White Cedar costs more upfront than pressure-treated pine but typically lasts 20 to 30 years compared to 15 to 20 for pine. Board-on-board uses more lumber than dog-ear. Clay soil requires concrete footings; sandy ground may not. Our direct sourcing keeps the material side of the quote competitive.
Do I need a permit for a wood fence in Kentwood, MI?
Yes — Kentwood requires a permit for any fence over 30 inches tall, with a fee of $50 or $150 if City Engineer review is required. The maximum residential height is six feet, with front yards limited to three feet for solid fencing or four feet for open styles. Corner lot rules apply to the street-facing side yard. We handle the permit application, pay the fee, and coordinate the inspection. If you’re outside Kentwood, the rules for your township are different, and we pull the right ordinance before quoting.
Cedar or pine — which is better for a Michigan fence?
Eastern White Cedar lasts 20 to 30 years or more in West Michigan without needing chemical treatment, while pressure-treated pine typically lasts 15 to 20 years at a lower upfront cost. Cedar’s natural oils resist moisture, rot, and insects — which matters through Michigan’s wet shoulder seasons. Pressure-treated pine is denser, takes stain well, and is the better option when budget is the deciding factor, provided the post lumber is rated for direct ground contact. We source both directly.
How deep do fence posts need to go in Michigan?
Michigan’s frost line is 42 inches, and state building code requires permanent fence posts to reach at least that depth. Posts set shallower than that tend to shift as the ground freezes and thaws through the winter, which shows up as leaning or uneven sections by spring. Our standard is one-third of the post length below grade or 42 inches, whichever is deeper. Most fence companies in the region set posts at 30 to 36 inches. We don’t.
How long does a wood fence last in West Michigan?
A cedar fence that’s properly installed and maintained typically lasts 20 to 30 years in West Michigan. Pressure-treated pine with the same care usually runs 15 to 20 years. Lifespan depends most on post depth, lumber quality, fastener type, and whether the wood was properly dried before installation. Fences that fail early almost always fail at the post first — shallow holes, no concrete, or hardware that corrodes. Those aren’t issues with how we build.
Will Fence Brothers handle the MISS DIG call and the permit?
Yes — permits, utility locates, and HOA applications are all included in every project at no additional charge. We file the MISS DIG request 72 hours before digging, submit the permit application to your township, coordinate the inspection, and run the HOA architectural review in parallel where the subdivision allows it. You sign the paperwork, and we handle everything else.