Exterior
Fencing in Anchorage
Privacy, picket, and chain link fences with posts set deep enough that an Anchorage winter does not push them out of line.
A fence is a simple structure that Alaska is very good at destroying. Shallow posts heave, gates that were square in August do not latch in March, and a panel that catches drifting snow takes a load nobody designed for.
We set posts deep, in the right backfill, and we hang gates with hardware that tolerates a post moving a little without binding.
Cedar privacy fence is the most common request in Anchorage. We also build picket, ranch rail, and chain link, and we repair sections rather than replacing a whole run when that is what the fence needs.
Scope
What the Job Covers
Post setting below frost
Holes dug deep enough to get the post base below the frost line, with drainage at the bottom so the post is not sitting in water.
Cedar privacy fence
Six foot standard, board on board or side by side, with a cap and trim if you want the finished look.
Picket and ranch rail
Lower profile options for front yards and property lines where you are marking a boundary rather than blocking a view.
Chain link
Galvanized or vinyl coated, including dog runs and utility enclosures.
Gates
Braced and hung so they stay square, with latches that still work after the ground shifts.
Repairs
Replacing heaved posts, resetting leaning runs, and swapping damaged boards to match.
Alaska specific
Why Fence Posts Heave in Southcentral
Frost heave lifts anything anchored above the frost line. A post set three feet deep in Anchorage will move. A post set below the frost line with clean drainage at the bottom of the hole will not.
The detail people miss is water. If the concrete forms a cup that holds water at the base of the post, that water freezes and jacks the post upward regardless of depth. We put drain rock at the bottom and crown the concrete at the top so water sheds away.
The other item here is snow load against the fence. A solid privacy fence on the windward side of a lot catches drifts, and the drift pushes. Board-on-board with a small gap lets some wind through and puts far less lateral load on the posts.
How it runs
From Estimate to Punch List
- 01
Layout and locates
We confirm the property line and call in utility locates before anyone digs. This step is not optional.
- 02
Posts
Holes dug, posts set plumb in concrete with drainage below, then left to cure before anything is hung.
- 03
Rails and boards
Rails run level or stepped to the grade depending on the slope, then boards or panels.
- 04
Gates and cleanup
Gates hung and adjusted, hardware installed, and the spoils hauled off.
Questions
Fencing FAQs
How deep do fence posts need to be in Anchorage?
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Below the frost line, which is deeper than most people expect in the bowl. Anything shallower will move within a few winters. We size the hole depth to the post height and the soil we find.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
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Usually not for a standard residential fence within height limits, but setbacks and corner visibility rules still apply, and it must be on your property line. We check before we set posts.
How long does a cedar fence last here?
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Fifteen to twenty-five years on posts set correctly. The boards outlast the posts almost every time, which is why post depth is where the money should go.
Can you fix a leaning fence instead of replacing it?
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Often yes. If the boards and rails are sound and only a few posts have heaved, resetting those posts is a fraction of the cost of a new run.
We handle fencing throughout Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak, Girdwood, Palmer, Wasilla.
Related
Often Done Together
Decks
New decks and rebuilds on frost-depth footings, framed for Alaska snow load and finished in wood or composite.
Learn more
Foundations & Excavation
Foundation repair, new foundations, site excavation, drainage correction, and seismic retrofit of older Anchorage homes.
Learn more
Exterior Painting
Full exterior repaints with the prep, primer, and product selection an Anchorage winter actually demands.
Learn more
Pressure Washing
Siding, decks, driveways, and walkways washed clean of winter grit, road film, and the algae that builds up on the shady side.
Learn moreReady to Talk About fencing?
Free estimates throughout Anchorage, Eagle River, and the Mat-Su.