At DENFENCE, we build our cedar privacy fences on galvanized steel posts wherever the site allows it. Steel posts don’t rot at the ground line, hold up better to Colorado Springs wind, and can stay in place the next time you replace your fence — while cedar pickets cover them, so your fence still looks 100% wood.
Why Wood Fence Posts Fail
Almost every wood fence fails the same way: at the bottom of the post. The part of a 4×4 that sits in the ground stays damp, and over time it rots right at the soil line. Depending on wind exposure and soil moisture, a wood post usually lasts anywhere from 7 to 20 years — but sooner or later it rots at the base, starts to lean, and eventually snaps in a strong wind.
Here on the Front Range that “strong wind” isn’t rare. And replacing posts is the most expensive part of fixing a fence: old posts and their concrete have to come out before new ones go in.
The Steel Posts We Use
We install UniPost galvanized steel fence posts, made in the USA from American steel and designed to replace wood 4×4s in a standard wood fence.
- Galvanized to resist rust and corrosion.
- Don’t rot or warp the way wood posts do.
- Built for wind — the manufacturer rates them for 72+ mph winds.
- 8-ft and 9-ft lengths, so we can match the post to your fence height.
Two Ways to Install: Concrete or Driven
Steel posts can go in the ground two ways:
- Set in concrete — the traditional method, just like a wood post.
- Driven — pounded straight into the ground 28 inches to 3 feet deep, depending on the soil, with no concrete at all.
Driving isn’t right for every yard — very rocky or very loose soil may call for concrete. Our crew checks your soil on install day and tells you what will hold best. You always choose the method.
See both methods on real projects: in Briargate we set steel posts in concrete for almost 400 ft of cedar privacy fence, and in Rockrimmon we drove line posts about 30 inches deep and set the gate posts in concrete.
Rails Are Screwed On, Not Nailed
On a wood post, rails are usually nailed on. As the wood dries, shrinks and swells over the years, nails loosen and rails can sag or pull away from the post.
On a steel post, each rail is fastened with three deck screws through the post. Screws don’t back out the way nails do, so the rails stay tight to the post year after year.
It Still Looks Like an All-Wood Fence
Many homeowners — and HOAs — want a fence that looks like natural wood. That’s exactly what you get: we cover the steel posts with cedar pickets, so the steel is practically invisible. From your yard and from the street, it looks like a classic cedar privacy fence.
Steel vs Wood Fence Posts at a Glance
| Galvanized steel posts | Wood 4×4 posts | |
|---|---|---|
| Rot at the ground line | No | Yes — the most common failure |
| Typical post life | Many decades | About 7–20 years |
| Wind | Rated for 72+ mph by the manufacturer | Weakens as the base rots |
| Rail attachment | 3 deck screws per rail | Usually nails |
| Next fence replacement | Posts stay — replace pickets and rails | Posts usually replaced too |
| Upfront cost | A little higher | Lower |
Pay a Little More Now, Save Later
Yes, steel posts add a little to the cost of your fence on install day. But setting posts is the hardest, most labor-heavy part of any fence job. When it’s time to replace your cedar years from now, your steel posts stay in the ground — and you can save up to about 30% on that next fence, on top of avoiding post repairs in the meantime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be able to see the steel posts?
Hardly at all. We cover the posts with cedar pickets, so the fence looks like an all-wood cedar fence.
Do galvanized steel posts rust?
They’re galvanized specifically to resist rust and corrosion, and they don’t rot like wood.
Can steel posts be driven into any soil?
No. Driven posts go 28 inches to 3 feet deep, and some soils — very rocky or very loose — need concrete instead. Our crew decides on install day, and you always have the choice.
Do steel posts cost more than wood?
A little more upfront. In return, you skip rotted-post repairs and can reuse the posts the next time you replace the fence — often saving up to about 30% on that job.
Can you use steel posts on any fence?
We use them on our cedar privacy fences wherever the site allows. Ask about them at your free estimate — Illia will tell you what fits your yard.