Horizontal Slat & Modern Fence Installation

Horizontal slat fencing runs the boards sideways across the posts instead of standing them up like pickets. The result sits lower and looks flatter, which is why it shows up mostly on newer builds with a modern exterior. We handle horizontal fence installation Tennessee homeowners want in Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, and Spring Hill. Fair warning though: it's harder to build well than a vertical fence.

What makes a horizontal fence different to build

A board spanning between two posts wants to bow in the middle, so the posts have to come in tighter than they would on a vertical fence. Get that wrong and the top of the run picks up a visible wave.

The frame has to be straight too. On a vertical fence, a rail that's slightly off gets hidden behind the pickets. Nothing hides on a horizontal fence. Every board is a level line, so a post that leans even a little shows up along the whole run. We set posts with those finished lines in mind, and we brace corners and gate posts heavier than a standard build needs.

Choosing boards that hold their shape

Board thickness and species matter more here than on most fences. Thin stock sags across a span and cups as it dries, and a cupped board on a horizontal run throws a shadow line down the length of the fence. Cedar is our usual pick in wood fence work because it stays stable in our humidity and takes a stain well. We check grain and moisture when we sort stock, since a board that's still wet will move after it's up no matter how carefully it went on.

Composite is the other common route. It resists the cupping and checking wood can pick up, and the face tends to stay flatter over the years. Some composite systems weigh more than wood, which feeds back into post spacing and footing depth. We get into those trade-offs on our composite fence page. Mixed wood-and-metal builds are popular too, usually steel posts with wood or composite infill. That gives you a thinner post profile and a dead-straight frame to hang boards on.

Hardware, fasteners, and gates

Hidden fastener systems keep the board faces clean, with the hardware behind the boards or set into the back of the frame. Face-screwed builds can look sharp too when the screws line up and the heads stay consistent, though a crooked row has nowhere to hide. Gates take the most planning. A horizontal gate has to stay square through summer humidity and winter swing, so the frame, hinges, and latch all get sized for the actual weight instead of borrowed from a picket gate.

Site conditions we plan around

Ground conditions vary a lot across our area. Some lots hit rock shallow. Others are clay that swells and shrinks with the seasons. Both change how we set posts, and we'd rather find that on the walk than halfway through digging.

Slope matters more on this style than on pickets. Horizontal boards can't follow the ground the way pickets can, so the runs step down the grade in sections. Where those steps land is a layout decision, and we make it with you before anybody digs.

What a horizontal fence costs compared to a vertical one

Horizontal builds usually run higher than a comparable vertical fence. More posts, better boards, more layout time, and often upgraded hardware. Composite and metal-framed versions sit at the top end. If you mainly want to screen a yard and the look is secondary, a well-built privacy fence in a traditional layout covers the same ground for less. We'll walk the property, go through material options, and put a number on it before anything gets ordered.

How we handle the work

Middle TN Fence & Gate builds these in house. The same people who quote the fence set the posts and hang the boards.

We start with a walk of the line, checking grade changes, drainage, and where the property pins actually sit. Utilities get located before we dig. We also ask you to confirm setback rules, height limits, and permit requirements with your city or county, and with your HOA if you have one, since those vary across Columbia, Thompson's Station, Fairview, and everywhere in between.

Where we build

We work throughout Maury and Williamson County, including Columbia, Spring Hill, Franklin, Brentwood, Nolensville, Thompson's Station, Mt. Pleasant, Fairview, Culleoka, Hampshire, and Santa Fe. We also cover Chapel Hill over in Marshall County.

Common questions about horizontal fences

Do horizontal boards sag over time?

They can, and that's almost always a build problem rather than a material problem. Posts set too far apart, boards too thin for the span, or a frame that wasn't straight to begin with will all show up as sag. Tighter post spacing and properly sized stock keep the lines flat.

Is a horizontal fence as private as a standard privacy fence?

Yes, if you build it that way. Boards can go tight against each other for full screening, or with a gap for a lighter, more open look. The gap version lets in air and light, which some people want around a pool, but it isn't a full screen.

Which material holds up best in Middle Tennessee?

Cedar and composite both do well here. Cedar handles our humidity and looks warmer, though it needs a stain or sealer on a schedule to keep its color. Composite skips the maintenance and stays flat, which matters more on a horizontal run than a vertical one. We'll talk through both once we see the site.

Can you build a horizontal fence on a slope?

We can. The runs step down the grade in sections instead of following the ground continuously, and we plan where those steps land. Steeper lots need more sections and more posts, and we'll lay that out before we start.

Ready to talk about a horizontal fence for your place? Call us at (629) 230-3689 and we'll come take a look.