Stucco Fence/Wall in Seattle - Landscape Carpentry

Designing a fence and gate to mimic the architectural style

A prior customer, for whom we had once built a flagstone patio, called me up and said she had a new challenge for me. She had found this nice custom cedar gate and wanted to replace her failing cedar fence that faces a dirt alley next to a vacant field.

Their house is an early-20th century stucco bungalow with very Spanish-style accents, and they had years ago remodeled their garage to a cottage that matches the style (with a clay tile roof for extra flair). Originally she had suggested that I build some stone columns to frame in this gate, but after we discussed the possibilities I suggested that we replace the whole back section of fencing and replace it with one that mimics the look of the house and cottage.

I wanted to use 6x6 posts and put stucco panels in between. That way the stucco would not have to go around any corners (tends to be much more complicated to do without cracking) and would be more resilient to movement from wind, freezing/thawing and ground shifting. I used Dunn Lumber's juniper landscape timbers which are inexpensive and rot-resistant.

I chose to form and pour a reinforced slab foundation for the fence as opposed to the usual individual post footings. This was for three reasons: greater strength to prevent wobbling, to resist the shifting root structure of a nearby walnut tree, and to allow a mud-free and flat surface for the stucco panels to land on at the bottom. The panels themselves are 1/2" Hardiback cement board. 2x8 cedar planks as capping.

This very nice gate is made by Pacific Gate Works and the finish was applied by my customer.

I am very proud of the way this turned out. It's a little hard to photograph between the thick vegetation, the dappled light through the walnut tree leaves and the size of it all, but I think you get the idea. I can add this to my growing list of woodwork accomplishments, plus multiple stucco applications.