This privacy fence in Short Pump went up around the backyard of a white-sided home that backs up to woods. The owners wanted the yard closed in, with a drive gate so equipment can still reach the back.
For this Henrico County privacy fence, we used natural pressure-treated pine with dog-ear boards. It stands a full 6′ beside the house and along the side lines. Then it steps down to 4′ at the back corners, where the yard meets the trees. A double drive gate at the end of the driveway and a walk gate beside the house give the owners two ways in.
Privacy Fence in Short Pump Project Highlights
One Fence, Two Heights
The tallest sections sit where screening matters most: next to the house, along the driveway and down the side lines toward the neighbors. There, the 6′ dog-ear boards form a solid, continuous screen. At the back, the lot runs into woods, so the fence drops to 4′. That lower run marks the boundary without boxing in the view of the trees.
Each step lands at a corner post, so the change in height looks deliberate from every angle. Along the woods, the line follows the ground as it heads toward the back of the lot. The double drive gate lets a mower, a trailer or anything else reach the backyard, while the walk gate handles everyday trips.
Pine That Earns Its Place on a Wooded Lot
We used natural pressure-treated pine, a long-standing choice for Virginia privacy fences. The treatment protects the wood from rot and insects through humid summers and winter freeze-thaw cycles. For posts set in the ground, the American Wood Protection Association calls for Use Category 4A (UC4A) or higher.
Fresh from the yard, the stock shows the warm green-tan tone you see in these photos. Left alone, it will weather to a soft silver-gray over the coming seasons, a look many homeowners prefer. To keep the warmer color, the family can clean and stain the fence once the wood dries out. Our guide to sealing a wood fence explains when and how.
Why the Layout Matters on a Stepped Fence
A stepped privacy fence does not forgive a sloppy layout, because every change in height draws the eye. Here, the boards hold an even dog-ear line along each run, and the steps sit at the corners rather than in the middle of a section.
Near the driveway, the 6′ drive gate matches the boards on either side, so the front of the yard reads as one clean wall of wood. The bare soil along the post line in these photos shows how fresh the install was.
A Short Pump Privacy Fence With Two Heights
This privacy fence in Short Pump gives the home the best of both heights. The family has a solid 6′ screen beside the house and along the sides. Meanwhile, the 4′ run at the back keeps the wooded edge of the lot open to view.
Natural pressure-treated pine leaves the door open to staining later, and the dog-ear profile never goes out of style in Central Virginia. On this lot, each part of the yard has the height it needs.
Get a Fast, Free Quote for Your Short Pump Fence
Want a privacy fence that changes height where your yard does? Request a fast, free quote or call (804) 737-4664. Good Neighbor Fence has been family owned since 2006 and has more than 400 five-star Google reviews.
