Board-on-board vs. picket fence
Total privacy with no shrink gaps, or a lower-cost standard fence?
By The T.A.P. Team · March 2024 · 6 min read
Board-on-board and standard picket fences are the two most common wood privacy styles in Texas — the difference is how the pickets are arranged. A board-on-board fence overlaps the pickets so there are no gaps, even after the wood shrinks in our heat; a standard (side-by-side) picket fence butts the boards together and costs less. For a backyard where privacy matters, the overlap is usually worth it. Here's the comparison.
- Board-on-board: overlapping pickets, no gaps
- Standard picket: side-by-side, lower cost
- Wood shrinks in Texas heat — gaps open on butted boards
- Board-on-board uses more wood (higher cost)
- Both look good from both sides if built that way
How each is built
A standard privacy fence sets pickets side by side, butted together. A board-on-board fence overlaps each picket over its neighbors (like shiplap), so the boards cover the gaps between them. That overlap is the whole point: it guarantees privacy now and keeps it later.
Why the overlap matters in Texas
Wood shrinks as it dries in our heat, and butted-together pickets pull apart over time — opening gaps you can see (and be seen) through. Board-on-board's overlap absorbs that shrinkage, so the fence stays private for its whole life. In a climate this hard on wood, that's a real advantage.
Cost and appearance
Board-on-board uses noticeably more wood (the overlaps), so it costs more than a standard picket fence — the trade-off for gap-free privacy and a slightly more substantial look. Both can be built "good neighbor" style (finished on both sides). A standard picket fence is the budget choice where a few small gaps down the road are acceptable.
Which should you build?
Choose board-on-board for a backyard where lasting privacy is the priority and the extra cost is worth it. Choose a standard picket fence to save money where total privacy isn't critical. Whatever the style, the posts and wood matter as much as the layout. See fence cost.
| Board-on-board | Standard picket | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | No gaps (overlapped) | Gaps can open |
| Cost | Higher (more wood) | Lower |
| Holds up to shrinkage | Yes | Gaps as wood dries |
| Look | More substantial | Simple, clean |
| Best for | Backyard privacy | Budget-friendly runs |
In the Texas climate, where wood shrinks and butted pickets pull apart, board-on-board is the more durable privacy choice — it stays gap-free for the life of the fence. The extra wood costs more up front, but for a backyard privacy fence it usually earns its keep. Save the standard picket layout for runs where a few small gaps down the road won't bother you.
Privacy that lasts in North Texas
Because our heat shrinks wood, board-on-board is a popular privacy choice across Frisco, Plano, and Southlake — it doesn't open up over the years the way a butted picket fence can. We build both styles. See our fence installation team.
The short version
- Board-on-board overlaps the pickets so there are no gaps; standard picket butts them side by side.
- Wood shrinks in Texas heat, opening gaps in butted picket fences over time.
- Board-on-board's overlap keeps the fence private for its whole life.
- It uses more wood, so it costs more than a standard picket fence.
- Both can be built "good neighbor" style, finished on both sides.
- Choose board-on-board for lasting backyard privacy; standard picket to save money.
Board-on-board vs picket — frequently asked questions
Building a privacy fence?
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