Fences, Pergolas & Garden Structures in Denver
Fencing, pergolas, shade structures, and the built features that finish a landscape — set deep enough to survive Front Range wind and frost heave.
- Posts set below frost depth in concrete — the difference between a fence and a leaning fence
- Cedar, composite, and metal options specified for Denver sun and wind exposure
- Pergolas and shade structures that make a hot patio genuinely usable
- Raised beds, screens, trellises, and gates built as part of the landscape, not bolted on after
- We handle HOA and setback requirements before anything gets dug
Get a free estimate
Tell us what you’re working with. We’ll walk the property and give you a real number.
What’s included
Property line and setback check, plus HOA submittal support where it applies.
Utility locate before any post hole gets dug — every time, no exceptions.
Post holes below frost depth, set in concrete with proper crown for water shed.
Fence panels, gates, and hardware sized for Front Range wind loads.
Pergolas and shade structures engineered for snow load as well as sun.
Stain or finish where specified, and haul-off of the old fence if there is one.
Fencing generally runs $35–$80 per linear foot installed depending on material and height — cedar privacy at the middle, metal and composite higher. Pergolas and custom structures price by design. Old fence removal and disposal is quoted separately.
Structures are what make a yard usable
Planting and hardscape give you a landscape to look at. Structures give you one to use.
A patio in full southern exposure at 5,280 feet goes unused from June through August — the sun is simply too direct. Put a pergola over it and the same square footage becomes the most-used space on the property. A fence turns an open lot into a yard the dog can be in. A screen hides the utility area. A trellis puts vertical green where there's no room for a tree.
These are the elements that usually get cut first from a landscape budget and missed most afterward.
Depth is the whole story on fencing
Front Range frost heave is brutal on anything set in the ground. Post holes need to go below frost depth — generally 30 to 36 inches minimum in the Denver metro, deeper on tall privacy runs and exposed lots — and get set in concrete with a crown so water sheds away from the post rather than pooling at it.
Cut that depth and the fence looks perfect in September and starts going out of plumb by the second spring. It's invisible on a bid and it's the main thing separating a cheap fence quote from a real one.
Wind matters as much as frost. Solid privacy panels on an exposed lot carry a serious wind load, which drives post spacing, post size, and whether the design needs gaps to let air through.
What we build
Fencing — cedar privacy, split rail, ornamental metal, and composite. Gates sized and hung so they still latch in year five.
Pergolas and shade structures — freestanding or attached, engineered for snow load as well as sun. This is the highest-value addition to most Denver patios.
Screens and trellises — for utility areas, AC units, property-line privacy where a full fence is overkill, and vertical planting.
Raised beds and planters — built as part of the landscape's material language rather than dropped in as kits.
Structures work with hardscape — the patio and the thing that shades it are one project, not two — and get planted into with trees and shrubs so the built elements don't stand alone.
HOA and permits, handled first
Most Denver-area jurisdictions permit fencing above a set height, and the thresholds differ between Denver, Lakewood, Arvada, and unincorporated county. HOAs generally require a separate architectural submittal with drawings and materials.
We sort both out before we dig. If you're dealing with an HOA on landscape condition more broadly, our guide to HOA landscaping rules in Denver covers where their authority actually ends.
Areas we serve
We build fences and structures across Denver, Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Littleton, Centennial, Golden, and the surrounding Front Range.
Common questions
- How deep do fence posts need to be in Denver?
- Below frost depth, which in the Denver metro generally means a minimum of 30 to 36 inches, and we commonly go deeper on tall privacy fence or exposed windy lots. A post set shallow will heave with freeze-thaw and the whole run goes out of plumb. This is the single most common corner cut in residential fencing here.
- Cedar, composite, or metal?
- Cedar is the Front Range default — good looking, workable, naturally rot-resistant, and it grays beautifully if you let it. It needs stain every few years to hold color. Composite costs more up front and eliminates the refinishing. Ornamental metal is the right answer where you want enclosure without blocking a view, and it handles wind best.
- Do I need a permit or HOA approval for a fence?
- Most Denver-area jurisdictions require a permit over a certain height — typically six feet, sometimes lower in front setbacks — and rules differ between Denver, Lakewood, Arvada, and unincorporated county. If you're in an HOA there's almost always a separate architectural submittal. We check both before we quote, and we'll help with the HOA packet.
- Can a pergola actually make a difference in Denver heat?
- Yes, and it's usually the highest-impact structure you can add to a patio. Direct sun at 5,280 feet is the reason a hardscape area goes unused from June through August. Overhead shade — pergola, sail, or planted structure — is what converts a patio you look at into one you sit on.
- Can you match my existing fence?
- Usually. Matching an older cedar fence exactly is difficult because the wood has weathered, but we can match profile, height, and post spacing, and stain new work to close the gap. We'll be straight with you about how visible the transition will be.
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We design and build water-wise landscapes across Denver, Lakewood, and the Front Range. Free walkthrough, honest scope, no pressure.