Board-on-Board Fences
A board-on-board fence is built in two layers: one row of boards with small gaps between them, and a second row on top that covers every gap with an overlap. The result is a fence you cannot see through, even after the cedar has dried and shrunk.
It is the answer to the most common complaint about a plain privacy fence: the gaps that open up between boards after the first summer.
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Why the Overlap Matters
Wood moves
Cedar boards shrink as they dry and swell again in wet weather. On a single row of boards butted together, that movement shows as daylight between them.
The second layer
Because each outer board laps over two inner ones, the boards can shrink and still cover each other. Privacy stays the same through the seasons.
A fuller look
The overlap gives the face of the fence a shadow line at every board, which reads richer than a flat wall of boards.
Board-on-Board or Shadowbox?
The two are often confused. Both use overlapping boards; the difference is which side of the rails they go on.
Board-on-board
Both layers are on the same side of the rails. Full privacy from every angle; the rails show on the back side.
Shadowbox
Boards alternate on either side of the rails. Both sides look nearly the same and wind and air pass through, but you can see through it at an angle.
Which to pick
Board-on-board for the most privacy, shadowbox for a good-neighbor fence that looks the same from both yards. See privacy fences for other options.
Building It to Last
Posts for the weight
Two layers of boards weigh more and catch more wind than one, so the posts matter. 6×6 posts or steel posts suit tall and exposed runs.
Fasteners
Coated or stainless screws or nails at every rail, so the boards stay tight and do not leave black streaks in wet weather.
A cap on top
A cap board over the top keeps rain out of the end grain and of the joint between the layers. With trim, it becomes an estate fence.
Board-on-Board Cost
What drives the price
A single-layer 6-foot cedar privacy fence starts around $58 a foot installed on level ground. Board-on-board uses more boards and more fastening per foot, so it costs more; how much depends on the overlap and the board width.
Upgrades
6×6 posts add about $7 a foot, steel posts about $11, and stain about $7.
A first number
Start with “Cedar privacy” in the fence cost calculator, then ask for a measured estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is board-on-board fully private?
Yes. The overlap covers the gaps between boards, and keeps covering them as the wood shrinks and swells.
Is it the same on both sides?
Not quite: the rails show on the back. If both sides should look alike, ask about shadowbox.
Can an existing fence be turned into board-on-board?
Sometimes, by adding an outer layer to a fence whose posts and rails are sound. If the posts are weak, the extra weight is a reason to rebuild instead. See repair or replacement.
Does a board-on-board fence need a permit?
The style does not change the rules; height and location do. See height rules by city.