How much does a good neighbour fence (alternating board) cost in Metro Vancouver?

A good neighbour fence — also called a board-on-board or shadowbox fence — typically costs $50 to $85 per linear foot installed in Metro Vancouver, which is roughly 15 to 25% more than a standard flat-board privacy fence of the same height and material. The premium reflects the additional lumber and labour required for the alternating-board design, but many homeowners and their neighbours consider it well worth the investment.

The defining feature of a good neighbour fence is that boards are attached to alternating sides of the horizontal rails, creating a fence that looks attractive from both sides. Unlike a standard privacy fence — where one side shows the flat boards and the other shows the posts and rails — a good neighbour fence presents a finished, symmetrical appearance to everyone. This design is increasingly popular in Metro Vancouver's dense residential neighbourhoods, where the standard 33-foot-wide lots in Vancouver proper, and even the wider suburban lots in Surrey, Burnaby, and Coquitlam, mean your neighbour is looking at your fence just as much as you are.

Material choice is the primary cost driver. A 6-foot Western Red Cedar good neighbour fence runs $55 to $85 per linear foot installed in Metro Vancouver. Cedar is the premium choice and the most popular in the region because it's naturally rot-resistant, locally sourced in BC, and weathers beautifully even in Vancouver's relentless rain. Pressure-treated wood brings the cost down to $40 to $65 per linear foot, though it requires sealing every 2 to 3 years to prevent greying and surface cracking. For a typical 100-linear-foot rear yard fence, expect to pay $5,500 to $8,500 in cedar or $4,000 to $6,500 in pressure-treated — including posts set in concrete with gravel drainage, three horizontal rails, and all hardware.

The reason a good neighbour fence costs more than a flat-board fence is simple: it uses approximately 50% more board material. A standard 6-foot privacy fence uses one layer of boards, while the alternating design overlaps boards on both sides to eliminate gaps. A 100-linear-foot section might use 200 boards for a flat fence versus 280 to 300 boards for a good neighbour design. The additional boards add $800 to $1,500 in material, plus extra labour time for the more precise installation — boards must be evenly spaced and consistently overlapped to achieve a uniform appearance from both sides.

One significant advantage of the good neighbour design in Metro Vancouver's climate is wind performance. Because the overlapping boards are not tightly sealed like a solid privacy fence, some air passes through the small gaps between alternating boards. This reduces wind load on the fence structure, which is particularly valuable on exposed lots in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, White Rock, and elevated areas throughout the region where winter outflow winds can reach 80 to 100 km/h. A solid fence acts as a wind sail and requires deeper posts with more concrete, while a good neighbour fence can often use standard post depth and spacing — partially offsetting the higher material cost.

Privacy is slightly reduced compared to a solid fence, but the difference is minimal when the board overlap is properly set. With a standard 1 to 1.5 inch overlap between alternating boards, you cannot see through the fence when looking straight at it. At extreme angles, small slivers of visibility exist, but this is negligible for practical privacy. If maximum privacy is critical — for example, adjacent to a hot tub or outdoor living area — request a wider overlap of 2 inches, which eliminates angle visibility entirely but increases material cost by another 10 to 15%.

The good neighbour fence is also an excellent diplomatic choice when sharing costs with an adjacent property owner. Under BC's Property Law Act, boundary fence costs may be shared between adjoining owners. Because the good neighbour design looks identical from both sides, neighbours are generally more willing to split costs than they would be for a standard fence where they're stuck looking at the less attractive post-and-rail side. A 50/50 cost split on a $7,000 good neighbour fence makes it comparable in out-of-pocket cost to paying full price for a $3,500 basic fence — with a far superior result.

For the best value, get quotes from at least three fence contractors and specify "board-on-board" or "good neighbour" design so you're comparing the same product. Need help finding a fence contractor? Vancouver Fence Builders can match you with experienced local professionals for a free estimate on your project.

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