Wood costs less up front: $20 to $50 per foot installed, against $30 to $60 for vinyl in the national figures. Vinyl then costs almost nothing to keep. Wood wants a sealer now and then and the occasional new board or post, so the gap narrows over the years.
Price ranges are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026, not our own quotes. Peninsula labor rates, lumber and metal prices and the conditions on your lot move the real number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
| Wood | Vinyl | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost per foot | $20 to $50 | $30 to $60 |
| Upkeep | Seal or stain every few years | Wash it down |
| Weak point | Posts rot at the soil line | Strong sun fades it; an impact can crack a panel |
| Repairs | Board by board | Often a full panel |
| Look | Natural, any stain color | Even, limited colors |
| Permit in Mountain View | None at 6 feet or under for a house | Non-wood fences need a building permit |
Redwood, cedar or pressure-treated pine?
Redwood is the traditional fence board on the Peninsula, with cedar close behind. Both have heartwood that resists decay and insects with no treatment, and both move less than pine as they dry in the summer sun. Pressure-treated lumber is cheaper and makes sense for posts and for the kick board at the bottom, the parts that touch soil. Many fences here pair redwood or cedar boards with pressure-treated posts.
Which fence lasts longest in dry summers and wet winters?
Aluminum and vinyl, since they cannot rot. Among wood fences, the fence lasts longest where the posts were set deep in footings that drain. Mountain View has no hard freeze to plan around. What wears a fence here is six dry months of sun that check and shrink the boards, then a rainy season that keeps the post bases wet in clay.
What type of fence is best for my yard?
| You want | Good choices | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | 6-foot redwood, cedar or vinyl | 7 feet needs a permit and neighbor consent in Mountain View |
| A large dog | 5 or 6 foot wood, vinyl or chain link | Close the bottom edge |
| Small children | A solid fence and a self-latching gate | Mount the latch high |
| A pool | Aluminum built to the state pool rules | 60-inch height and gate hardware get inspected |
| Lowest cost | Chain link | Non-wood needs a building permit in Mountain View |
| Low upkeep | Vinyl or aluminum | Higher price at the start |
| An Eichler or ranch home | Plain horizontal or vertical board, level top | Agree the style with the neighbors who share it |
| Horses or a large hill lot | Post and rail or no-climb wire | Hill towns limit height and require open fencing |
Is aluminum fencing strong enough for a large dog?
For most dogs, yes. The questions are how high the dog jumps and how wide the picket gaps are. Choose a taller panel for a jumper. For a small dog, pick a style with closer pickets along the bottom.
We have a large dog, want privacy and do not want to spend a fortune. What makes sense?
A basic 6-foot dog-ear board fence. It blocks the view, holds most big dogs and is the least expensive solid fence. To trim the cost further, put the board fence where the neighbors or the street look in, and run chain link along a side that faces nothing.
My neighbor has wood and wants me to match it so we can split the cost. I want vinyl.
A shared run can only be one material, so you two have to agree on it and write down who pays what. The rest of your yard is your choice. If no agreement comes, you can build the fence you want just inside your own line at your own cost.
Will the new fence look the same on my neighbor's side?
With some styles, yes. Board-on-board, shadowbox, horizontal board with a cap and most vinyl are finished on both faces. A plain board fence has a rail side and a smooth side. Settle with the neighbor which way it faces before we build. On long shared runs some owners alternate the face from one section to the next.
We can only give a real price after seeing the yard. The on-site estimate is free. Call (408) 539-2396 or text us a photo of the fence line.