If you've gotten a quote for a wood privacy fence recently, you've probably heard at least one of these terms. Dog ear, board on board, and shadowbox all describe variations of a wood privacy fence, but they look different, perform differently, and cost different amounts. Fence Company of Columbus installs all three styles, and knowing which one you're getting will help you ask better questions and end up with exactly what you want.
Dog ear is the most common wood privacy fence style in central Ohio. The name refers to the top of each board: the two upper corners are cut off at a diagonal, leaving a soft pointed shape that resembles a folded ear. Look at the top edge of any standard privacy fence board and you'll likely see this cut.
The fence is built with boards placed side by side on a single face of the horizontal rails. From the front you see a solid wood surface. From the back you see the rails and the cut ends of the boards. One layer of boards, full privacy, clean look from the street or yard side.
Dog ear is popular because it's efficient, durable, and looks good for years. Most pressure treated and cedar privacy fences in Ohio are built this way.
Board on board is a variation on the same basic layout. Instead of placing boards edge to edge, each board overlaps the next by an inch or two. From the front it looks very similar to a standard dog ear fence, just with a slightly different rhythm to the boards.
The practical advantage is that board on board handles wood movement better. As boards dry out after install they can pull apart slightly and leave thin gaps. The overlap in a board on board fence keeps the fence visually solid even after the wood has fully dried and settled.
Shadowbox is structurally different from the other two. Rather than placing all boards on one face of the rails, boards alternate sides. One board attaches to the front face of the rail. The next board attaches to the back face. The result is a fence that looks nearly solid from straight on but allows air to pass through the offset gaps at an angle.
The main reason people choose shadowbox is that both faces look finished. Your yard side and your neighbor's yard side get the same clean face. That matters on shared property lines, corner lots, or anywhere the back of the fence will be visible from the street or a neighbor's yard.
Shadowbox also handles wind load better than a solid panel fence. Because air can pass through the staggered gaps, there's less pressure on the posts in high wind conditions.
For most backyard applications, dog ear is the right call. It's clean, cost effective, and built to last. Board on board is a good upgrade if you want the fence to stay tight over time without any gaps forming as the wood settles. Shadowbox is worth the extra cost when the back side of the fence matters — a shared property line, a corner lot, or anywhere both faces will be regularly seen.
Not sure which style fits your project? Fence Company of Columbus can walk you through the options and put together a quote for whatever makes sense.
👉 Call us, email us, or fill out the form on the home page to receive a free quote. We serve Powell, Dublin, Westerville, Worthington, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, and Delaware.
80 Grace Drive Suite L - Powell, OH 43065
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