Shingletown is a whole different climate from the valley. Head east from Redding on Highway 44 and you climb into pine and cedar forest, with properties tucked among the trees on the way toward Lassen. Many homes sit on wooded lots of an acre or more, with long driveways off the highway. Summers are milder than in town, but winters bring real cold and the occasional snowfall. Fire is the bigger concern. The 2012 Ponderosa Fire burned right up to the edge of the community and destroyed dozens of buildings, and plenty of homeowners here now think hard about every wooden thing that sits next to the house. Add in sloped, rocky ground, forest duff that holds moisture against posts and wildlife that wanders through every yard, and fences here have to be built for more than looks.
We build and fix fences all over Shingletown, from small cabin lots to larger wooded parcels. Many jobs here mix materials: metal near the house, wood or wire farther out and a sturdy gate at the driveway. Our aluminum and wrought iron fences are a common pick for the sections closest to the home, since they won't burn. Jobs up here can take a bit longer when we hit rock, and we plan around winter weather when we schedule. Send the form or give us a call, and we'll come walk the property with you.
Fire-Wise Fencing Near the House
California's new Zone 0 rules call for noncombustible materials within the first five feet of a home. In practice, that means the fence sections and gates that connect to your house are the ones to focus on. A wood fence that runs right up to a wall can carry fire straight to the siding.
The simplest fix is to replace the last few feet of wood fence near the house with metal, or swap a wood gate beside the house for a steel one. Keep the ground under that section clear of bark and dry needles. We also keep wood fences from touching decks or woodpiles near the house, since those are common places for embers to land. Metal holds up well to snow too, and it never needs staining in the strong sun at this elevation.
Shingletown is unincorporated, so Shasta County's height rules apply: 3 feet in the required front yard and up to 6 feet in residential side and rear yards. Homeowners on the west side of Redding have been making the same fire-wise changes since the Carr Fire.
Snow, Slopes and Forest Ground
Winter is harder on fences up here. Snow piles against fences and adds weight, and freeze and thaw cycles work posts loose over time. We set posts deeper on exposed lines and brace corners well so the fence stays straight through the season. Wire fences usually need a tension check in spring after a heavy snow year.
The ground is its own challenge. Rocky soil and buried boulders are common, and forest duff holds moisture against the base of wood posts. We set every post on gravel in concrete, and on wetter lines we often use steel posts that won't rot.
Slopes are the norm, so we step or rack panels to follow the grade. Wildlife is the last piece, the same as for ranch owners down the hill in Millville. Deer fencing keeps them out of gardens, and a solid fence keeps dogs in when there's wildlife around. If a winter storm knocks down a section, our fence repair crews can usually get it standing again quickly.