Fences / Cedar privacy fence

Got a backyard to fence?

Cedar and Wood Privacy Fences in Melba and the Treasure Valley

A cedar privacy fence keeps the dog in, the street out and the backyard yours. Beau Keefauver and his son build them out of Melba for homes across the Treasure Valley, on wood posts or steel posts. Here's what to know before you line up three quotes.

Call Beau (208) 957-1761 Text a photo Free estimate

5.0 ★★★★★ from 14 Google reviews

Idaho Reg. RCE-65327. Free estimates. Open Saturdays.

A long run of capped cedar privacy fence along a fall lawn, with river rock and ornamental grasses at its base. — Capped cedar privacy fence along a lawn, with river rock and grasses at its base. October 2026.

Your options: tops, boards and posts

Most cedar fences come down to three choices. How the top is cut. How the boards are laid. What the posts are made of.

Posts are usually wood or steel. Steel posts don't rot, and they don't warp or twist as they dry the way wood can. Beau's job photos show cedar on both.

Dog-ear. The top corners of each board are clipped at an angle. The classic backyard look.
Flat-top. Square-cut boards for a straight, clean line.
Capped. A flat cap board runs along the top. It covers the board ends, sheds water and gives the fence a finished edge.
Board-on-board. Boards overlap, so no gaps show when the cedar dries and shrinks. It takes more boards.

Cedar privacy fence with a top cap on black steel posts, with rails and posts shown up close along a side yard. — Cedar boards on black steel posts, with three rails and a cap board on top. October 2026.

Flat-top cedar privacy fence wrapping a large backyard lawn under a clear blue sky, with a young spring tree and a white house with orange shutters at left. — Flat-top cedar privacy fence around a large backyard lawn, seen from the rail side. April 2026.

New cedar privacy fence on black steel posts, with a black steel-framed walk gate at the left. — Dog-ear cedar on black steel posts with three rails, beside a black steel-framed walk gate. September 2026.

Cedar on black steel posts

Some of Beau's recent cedar fences sit on black steel posts. In his words: "Black postmaster system with 3rd rail frame." In the photos, the cedar boards are fastened to three wood rails on slim black posts. Some have a cap board across the top, too.

Here's why that matters. Wood posts usually fail first, right at the ground line, where the wood stays wet. Lawn sprinklers and irrigation keep a lot of Treasure Valley fence lines damp. Steel doesn't rot there. A third rail gives each board one more place to be fastened, which helps hold the boards flat as the cedar dries.

Ask Beau on your estimate whether steel posts make sense for your yard and how the price compares with wood.

In Beau’s wordsBlack postmaster system with 3rd rail frameBlack poster master fence system, steel frame gates all capped and face plated.4x6 gate posts with anti sag cable with 2x4 bracing

“Got Fence? Did a great job. Friendly staff. Most beautiful fence I’ve ever had. Everything they did was the best I have ever seen. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend them to build yours or anybodys fence.”

Ray P. ★★★★★ Google review, Oct 2026 Wood fence

Beau replied“Thank you Ray was a pleasure doing business with you and the neighbor Roger. You guys were great to work with.”

Gates that hold their shape

A gate hangs off one post, so its weight pulls the far corner down over time. That's why the gate is usually the first part of a wood fence to sag and drag.

Heavier gate posts, a diagonal brace and a cable you can tighten all work against that. Beau's note on one August job: "4x6 gate posts with anti sag cable with 2x4 bracing." On a steel-post job in October, his note reads: "steel frame gates all capped and face plated."

Ask Beau on your estimate how he'd build yours.

What changes the price

Two quotes for the same yard can look far apart. These are usually the reasons.

Lumber prices move, too. Ask how long any quote holds.

Length of the line in feet, plus how many corners and ends it has.
Height.
Posts: wood or steel.
Style: board-on-board and cap boards take more lumber than plain dog-ear.
Gates: how many, how wide and how they're framed.
Ground: slopes, rock and hard clay slow the digging.
Tearing out an old fence and hauling it off.
Access: tight side yards and landscaping in the way.

Send Beau your rough length and a photo, and he’ll come out and give you a straight price.

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A wide view of a new cedar privacy fence with black steel posts and gates, closing off the space between two homes. — Cedar privacy fence on black steel posts, with gates, closing the gap between two homes. October 2026.

New unstained flat-top wood privacy fence around a backyard lawn, with a wide double gate with diagonal braces and a red-leaf tree behind. — Wood privacy fence on wood posts with a wide double gate braced on the diagonal. August 2026.

New dog-ear cedar privacy fence on galvanized steel posts with wood rails, along a green lawn with yellow autumn trees and neighbouring houses behind. — Dog-ear cedar privacy fence on galvanized steel posts with wood rails. October 2024.

How long it lasts and what upkeep looks like

Cedar holds up to rot and bugs better than most untreated wood. Left bare, the sun turns it silver-grey. That's color, not rot.

To keep the honey color, stain it. Many stain makers say to let new wood dry first. Sprinkle some water on a board. If it beads up, wait. If it soaks in, it's ready. Plan to re-coat every few years.

Aim sprinklers away from the boards. Keep dirt, bark and snow piles off the bottom. Check gate hinges and latches once a year. How long a fence lasts depends most on the posts and on water. Ask Beau on your estimate what he'd expect in your yard.

What customers said

“My old fence was garbage. Ugly, peeling and falling apart. Beau and his son were amazing to work with. They did a fantastic job and I am thrilled with the work they did. I highly recommend them for price/job well done/easy to work with and responsiveness! Before and after photos so you can see for yourselves!”

Amanda S. ★★★★★ Google review, 2024 Cedar fence + arched gate

Beau replied“Thank you so much for the work Amanda. It was a pleasure working with you on this project.”

“Got fence and crew did an excellent cedar fence for me and my wife. very good service”

Aiden W. ★★★★★ Google review, 2025 Cedar fence

Questions people ask

What should I ask when I compare three quotes?

Wood or steel posts? How deep are they set, and in what? Two rails or three? What fasteners? Plain steel can rust and streak cedar, so coated or stainless fasteners hold up better. How are the gates built so they don't sag? Who removes the old fence? Which side faces the neighbor? Get the answers in writing.

What happens on the estimate?

It's free. It helps to know where the fence will run, the height and style you want, how many gates you need and whether an old fence comes out. Have your HOA rules handy and know where your property pins are. Ask Beau on your estimate about timing.

Do I need HOA approval or a permit?

Often, yes. Many Treasure Valley subdivisions have rules on height, style, stain color and which side faces out. Get approval in writing before work starts. Cities can have height limits and permit rules too. Front yards and corner lots often have lower limits than backyards, so check with your city first.

Who decides where my property line is?

Not the fence builder. Find your property pins or check your plat map. If you're not sure, a licensed surveyor can mark the line. Talk to your neighbor before posts go in.

Do I have to call 811 before digging?

Yes. Idaho law requires a call to 811 at least two business days before digging, so buried utility lines get marked. The call is free. Private lines, like sprinkler pipes, are not marked. Ask Beau on your estimate who makes the call on your job.

Got a fence to build or fix?

Tell Beau where and what. He'll come out, measure, and give you a straight price. The estimate is free.

Call Beau (208) 957-1761 Text a photo Free estimate