Horizontal Wood Fences,a Different Line Than the Usual Vertical Run

A horizontal fence uses the same wood a vertical fence would, cedar or pine, just turned so the boards run the length of your property line instead of standing upright between posts. The look is the whole reason it exists: clean, even lines and a more architectural, contemporary feel than a standard picket run.

Running the boards horizontal does not change what the wood itself does. Cedar still carries its natural resistance to rot and insects and holds its shape better through humidity swings, which is why it is the more common pick for a finished, visible line like this one. Pine still works the same structural job it always does, and a horizontal pine fence is a real, buildable option where the look you want calls for it, it just needs the same attention pine always needs: kiln-dried boards, given time to acclimate before they go up, so they do not twist or cup once they are on the fence. One construction note specific to this style: horizontal boards need solid blocking between the posts to fasten to along their full length, not just at the ends, so the line stays straight instead of bowing between posts over time.