A wood fence gives the most privacy for the money and a warmer look than vinyl. We build stockade, board-on-board and shadowbox fences in pressure-treated pine, and because the City of Cape Coral requires wood fences to be painted or stained, the finish is part of our quote. Expect about $28 to $45 a foot for a 6-foot stockade privacy fence.
Three styles, three trade-offs
Stockade boards butt edge to edge on two or three rails. It is the most economical privacy fence, though small gaps open up as the boards dry. Board-on-board overlaps a second layer of boards across the gaps, so it stays fully private as the wood moves, at a higher cost. Shadowbox alternates boards on each side of the rails, which lets air through and gives your neighbor the same good side you see. It is a favorite where the fence runs along a shared line.
The city's finish rule
Cape Coral's code lists decay-resistant or pressure-treated wood as an allowed fence material, with one condition: it must be painted or stained. Bare, weathered boards aren't an option inside the city. We apply a penetrating stain once the lumber has dried enough to take it, or prime and paint if you'd like a color to match the house trim. Stain also slows the graying and checking that the Florida sun puts into raw pine.
Making wood last in a wet, warm climate
Posts are where wood fences fail, rotting at the line where wet ground meets air. We use lumber rated for ground contact for every post and set it in concrete with the top of the concrete crowned so water runs away from the wood. Boards are fastened with coated or stainless screws that won't streak or rust out, and we keep the bottom of the boards clear of the soil and the sprinkler spray where we can.
Even so, wood needs care: a fresh coat of stain every few years and an eye on the posts after a wet summer. If you'd rather never think about it, vinyl costs a little more and asks for almost nothing.
Wood fence prices
| Job | Typical price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Wood stockade privacy, 6 ft | $28–$45 per ft | Pressure-treated pine, painted or stained as the city requires |
| Wood board-on-board, 6 ft | $35–$50 per ft | Overlapping boards, no gaps as the wood shrinks |
| Wood shadowbox, 6 ft | $35–$50 per ft | Alternating boards that look the same from both sides |
| Walk gate | $300–$700 each | Single swing gate; vinyl and aluminum toward the top |
| Old fence removal | $4–$10 per ft | Tear-out and haul-away, quoted with the new fence |
About these prices: Lumber prices move more than any other fence material, so treat these 2026 Southwest Florida ranges as a starting point. Board style, the finish and the number of gates set your actual price, which we write up after measuring.
Last updated October 9, 2026