More than half the fence jobs we do in Lakewood involve some kind of grade change. The neighborhoods near Green Mountain and Bear Creek drop 4–8 feet across a typical backyard, and that slope creates two problems: racking and drainage. Racking means adjusting each panel to follow the ground contour instead of leaving triangular gaps at the bottom. We rack vinyl panels up to 7 degrees per section and step-cut cedar pickets on-site for steeper grades.
Drainage matters because a fence line acts like a low dam. If we set a solid privacy panel across a downhill slope without accounting for water flow, your neighbor's yard floods — or worse, water pools against the fence base and rots the posts from below. We install kickboards with 2-inch ground clearance and cut drainage gaps at low points. It's detail work that most contractors skip, and it's the reason our Lakewood fences last 15+ years instead of 8.
Materials, Methods & Local Know-How
Vinyl is our most popular material in Lakewood, and for good reason. The semi-arid climate, intense UV at elevation, and freeze-thaw cycling punish wood harder than most homeowners expect. We install CertainTeed Bufftech and Ply Gem panels with aluminum channel reinforcements inside every rail. The reinforcement prevents the horizontal deflection — the "sag" — that you see in cheap vinyl after a couple of Colorado winters.
For clients near Belmar and Applewood who want the warmth of real wood, we use #1 Grade Western Red Cedar with tight knots and no pith. The difference between #1 and #2 cedar is measurable: #1 has fewer defects per board, which means fewer boards that check, cup, or split within the first year. It costs about 15% more per linear foot, but we've tracked warranty callbacks, and #1 cedar produces roughly 60% fewer service calls over 5 years.
Lakewood's fence code allows 6 feet maximum in rear and side yards, 4 feet in front yards, measured from the highest adjacent grade. On sloped lots, "highest adjacent grade" can be confusing — we've seen homeowners get violation notices because they measured from their side but the fence exceeded 6 feet when measured from the neighbor's lower grade. We always measure from the lower side to stay compliant.
Lakewood Fencing Questions
How do you handle sloped yards in Lakewood?
We rack vinyl panels up to 7 degrees per section and step-cut cedar pickets on-site for steeper grades. We also install kickboards with 2-inch ground clearance and cut drainage gaps at low points to prevent water pooling against the fence base.
Why is vinyl fencing so popular in Lakewood?
Lakewood's semi-arid climate, UV intensity at elevation, and freeze-thaw cycles degrade wood faster than most expect. Aluminum-reinforced vinyl panels resist deflection and don't require staining, sealing, or painting — ever.
What's the maximum fence height in Lakewood?
Lakewood allows 6 feet in rear and side yards, 4 feet in front. On sloped lots, height is measured from the highest adjacent grade — typically your neighbor's lower side. We measure from the lower grade to ensure compliance and avoid violation notices.
What cedar grade should I use for my Lakewood fence?
#1 Grade Western Red Cedar with tight knots and no pith. It costs about 15% more per linear foot than #2, but produces roughly 60% fewer warranty callbacks over 5 years due to fewer checks, cups, and splits.