Most “wood privacy fences” in Los Angeles end at the cap rail — a hard, flat skyline that says fence and nothing more. This Los Angeles property got something different. We built a full-perimeter premium redwood privacy fence with an architectural decorative open-top frame above the main field — a horizontal trim band carrying spaced vertical accent pickets that lifts the eye, breaks the flat top line, and makes the fence read as designed garden architecture instead of a perimeter barrier.
The brief
The owners had a mature LA backyard garden with raised planters, gravel paths, a flagstone patio, and a few large palm and ornamental trees. The existing perimeter was failing — old fence, rotting boards, no real character. They wanted a privacy fence that would hold up to LA sun for decades, read as high-end garden architecture from the inside of the yard, and use a material that does not need stain to look beautiful. The brief specifically named redwood.
Why redwood, not cedar
Three reasons we specify redwood (not cedar) on the premium end of LA fence projects:
Color is the wood, not the stain. Western red cedar is honey-brown but mostly because of stain. Real redwood — clear heart or construction heart grades — has that rust-red color naturally and holds it for years before silvering. No annual stain coat required.
Higher rot resistance, more density. Redwood is denser than cedar with more natural tannins. On an LA hillside or a wet northern exposure, redwood outlasts cedar by years before the first repair.
It reads “California” in a way cedar does not. Redwood is the heritage privacy fence wood of California. Buyers and visitors recognize it as the premium choice without needing to ask the species.
The system
Posts: pressure-treated 4×4 set on adjustable steel post bases over concrete footings — steel bases keep the wood off ground level so it never wicks moisture from the soil. Rails: redwood 2×4 top, middle, and bottom across each panel. Boards: vertical premium-grade redwood, butted tight with consistent reveal, no cup or twist (we sort the wood before installation, not just after). All redwood fasteners — stainless screws hidden where possible — so there is no black bleed running down the boards as the wood weathers.
The decorative open-top frame
This is the signature detail. Above the main field of vertical boards, we built a continuous horizontal trim band — capped at the top, butted neatly against the field below — that carries a series of vertical pickets spaced apart at regular intervals. The pickets stop short of any total height, so the top reads as an open frame instead of a solid extension of the fence. Effect: the eye traces the trim band horizontally across the yard, then catches the rhythm of the vertical pickets above it, then settles back to the solid privacy field below. The fence visually sits in three layers instead of one.
This decorative top is also functional. It catches a little less wind than a solid fence would, and it lets the planting on the other side breathe at the top — important for ornamental trees and tall shrubs against the fence line.
Working with the existing garden
We built around the garden rather than rebuilding it. Posts were set to miss existing mature root systems, the rails align with the existing raised-planter heights so the planters read as built-in to the fence, and the cap height was tuned to clear the existing palm-frond canopies. The new fence does not look “new” against the garden — it looks like the garden was always meant to live inside it.
The corner posts
Each corner is finished with a slightly taller post (about 2 inches above the cap rail) that gets its own beveled top — a small detail most fence projects skip and most premium fences include. It frames each corner, gives the eye a place to land at every turn of the perimeter, and reads as deliberate craftsmanship instead of accidental.
How redwood ages in LA
The natural rust-red color holds for roughly 12-18 months before the wood begins to silver in direct sun. Many California homeowners actually prefer the silvered driftwood-gray over the rust-red — it reads even more premium and matches stucco, stone, and modern hardscape better. You can also stop the silvering at any time with a clear penetrating oil sealer applied annually, which holds the original red for years. Either way is correct; we deliver the fence in natural redwood and the homeowner picks the path.
Materials and longevity
Posts: pressure-treated 4×4 on adjustable steel bases over concrete footings. Rails: redwood 2×4. Boards: premium-grade redwood (clear heart or construction heart depending on budget). Decorative trim band and top pickets: matching redwood, same grade. Fasteners: stainless steel, hidden where possible. Hardware (any gates): black wrought-style. Expected service life with no stain: 25-plus years if left to silver. With annual clear-oil refresh: same lifespan with sustained color.
Care
No stain required. Sweep cobwebs off the open top frame once a season. If a single board ever gets damaged, swap it; redwood from a similar production batch will color-match within a few weeks. The pressure-treated posts behind the redwood are essentially permanent — they do not need maintenance for the life of the fence.
Thinking about a redwood fence project?
If you want a privacy fence that reads as architecture from the inside of your yard, that does not need annual staining, and that holds value when it is time to sell the house, premium redwood with a decorative open-top frame is the highest-impact option in the LA market. We design and build to your geometry, work around existing garden features, and source the wood ourselves so you know the grade before it goes in. Send a few photos and the layout; we will come out the same day for a free on-site estimate.
Related guides: Wood Privacy Fence Installation in Los Angeles (overview) · Modern Cedar Slat Privacy Fence · Fence Installation in Los Angeles (service overview) · Fence, Railing & Gate Photo Gallery