This Los Angeles backyard had two leftovers from previous owners: a low concrete block wall along the property line that worked as a foundation but did not give any privacy, and a side-yard gap between the house and the neighbor where the fence was old and the gate was falling off its hinges. We built one cohesive system around both — a tall vertical-board wood privacy fence sitting on top of the existing block wall, plus a matching side-yard gate with proper black hardware. Same wood, same stain, same vertical pattern. Everything reads as one project.

The brief

Backyard privacy was the priority. The original block wall topped out at about 30 inches — fine as a planter edge, useless as a privacy barrier. The owners wanted to extend it to full 6-foot fence height without rebuilding the existing wall, get matching side-yard access between the house and the neighbor with a real gate, and have everything stained the same warm tone so the whole property line reads as one design move.

The build

Frame: pressure-treated 4×4 posts set on top of the existing block wall — anchored through the wall and into the concrete footing below with epoxy and structural anchors. The posts give us the structure to run a long, plumb fence without depending on the block wall to do anything more than carry vertical load. Cladding: full-length vertical tongue-and-groove cedar boards, tight-fit, no gaps. We use T&G specifically for privacy fences because it stays solid as the wood moves — butt-joint boards will eventually open visible gaps as they shrink with the seasons, T&G stays closed. Finish: warm reddish-brown semi-transparent stain, hand-applied, two coats. The stain matches the existing brick coping color so the wall and the new fence read together.

The side-yard gate

Side-yard gates take more abuse than fences — they get opened and closed thousands of times, slammed by wind, leaned on, kicked. So we frame them differently. The gate sits in its own welded-style frame of 2×4 cedar with diagonal bracing on the back side to prevent sag. Vertical boards on the front match the fence panel exactly so when the gate is closed it disappears into the fence line. Hinges are heavy-duty self-closing models so the gate latches itself if you forget to shut it.

The hardware

Black wrought-iron-style gravity latch on the outside, deadbolt-style throw bolt on the inside for security. The black hardware gives a small accent against the warm stain — the only break in the wood tone is intentional. Hinges and the strike plate are all matched black, no shiny silver hardware showing.

Why we built fence + gate together

Three reasons we always pitch the full system when a client asks for either piece alone:

Tone and grain match only happens day one. Cedar from different mill batches or stained on different days will not match exactly. Doing both at the same time means the wood comes from one batch and the stain goes on in one session — the gate disappears into the fence line.

The gate is where the design gets noticed. Most people look at the gate up close (because they walk through it) and at the fence from a distance. Mismatched gate and fence is the most visible “we did this in two phases” sign on the property.

One trip, one labor mobilization. Sites get charged for setup, deliveries, and cleanup each time we come out. Doing fence and gate in one job saves the client real money versus two separate projects.

Working with the existing block wall

The block wall was solid but it had wear — uneven coping, some efflorescence, mortar joints showing their age. We did not skim or paint over it. The look we wanted is the contrast between the older masonry below and the warm new wood above — same as the trim line on a craftsman house. If we had matched the wall finish to the fence, the wall would have looked cheap; leaving it raw makes it part of the story.

Care and longevity

Stained cedar privacy fence on a sun-exposed wall in LA wants a re-coat every 3-4 years. No stripping — light sand, re-apply the same semi-transparent stain. Gate hardware is rated for outdoor service and should not need replacement for 15+ years. The pressure-treated posts on top of the block wall are essentially zero-maintenance and live behind the cedar so they never show. Expected service life of the full system: 20-plus years.

Thinking about a fence + gate project?

If your property has an old wall, an old fence, or a side-yard access that needs proper privacy and proper hardware, doing both pieces in one job is the cleanest result — both visually and in dollars. We design and build to your geometry, work around existing features you want to keep (like a block wall, an existing pad, a tree), and finish to match the rest of the house. Send a few photos and the layout; we will come out the same day for a free on-site estimate.

Related guides: Cedar Plank Fence on Hillside in Los Angeles · Modern Cedar Slat Privacy Fence in LA (multi-unit) · Custom Wood Gate Installation in Los Angeles · Fence, Railing & Gate Photo Gallery