Every question, answered.

Five steps, no mystery: a free on-site consultation, a collaborative design, a fully itemized quote, a build with clear communication throughout, and a final walkthrough — we don't call it done until you do.

Yes — CA License #1082932, licensed, bonded, and insured, and factory-authorized installers for Trex Fencing and QuickScreen Aluminum.

It depends on size, material, terrain, and gates — which is why we start every project with a free on-site consultation and give you a clear, itemized quote before any work begins. No surprises is the whole point.

We check the permit requirements for your specific property and project as part of the design process — many standard fences don't need one, and when a project does, we'll tell you exactly what's involved.

The Santa Barbara South Coast — Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, Summerland, Carpinteria, and Goleta — plus the Santa Ynez Valley: Santa Ynez, Solvang, Buellton, and Los Olivos.

Usually, yes. Because we build custom rather than from prefab panels, we can match board profiles, heights, and stain colors — whether you're extending a run or replacing a damaged section.

We'll set up a free on-site consultation — we walk the property with you, listen to what you need, and talk through design and material options. After that you get a clear, itemized quote. No pressure, no obligation.

Completely. The first conversation is how we design well — we'd rather understand your project properly than quote it blind.

Please do — especially for repairs. A photo of the leaning section or sagging gate lets us give you a straight first read on repair vs. replace before anyone drives anywhere.

Nothing formal — just think about how you use the space, any photos of styles you like, and rough budget comfort. Knowing where property lines sit helps too, but we can work through that together.

Usually not after the initial walkthrough — most fence and gate work happens outside. We'll agree on access and keep you updated as the build progresses.

It depends on the job and budget. Properly graded and sealed cedar is the classic choice; tropical hardwoods like Ipe and Cumaru are the durability ceiling; composite and aluminum trade higher up-front cost for near-zero maintenance. We work in all of them and will lay out the real trade-offs at your free consultation.

Western Red Cedar is the premium: richer color, better dimensional stability, and higher grades available. Incense Cedar is a solid, more affordable California staple. Within both, lumber grade matters as much as species — it's the difference between a fence that lasts 10 years and one that lasts 25. We'll show you samples of each grade before you decide.

For the right project, absolutely. Ipe and Cumaru are dramatically denser and more rot-resistant than softwoods — a properly built hardwood fence can outlast several cedar fences. It costs more up front and demands expertise to build with; that's exactly why so few companies offer it.

Length, height, material, terrain, and gates drive it — a level Incense Cedar run and a hillside Ipe fence are different worlds. Free on-site consultation, itemized quote, no surprises.

Often not for standard heights, but rules vary by city, zone, and placement — and coastal and front-yard locations can have extra requirements. We check the requirements for your property as part of design.

Fencing designed not to carry flame to your home: non-combustible materials like steel and aluminum, and fire-wise detailing near structures. Increasingly relevant for insurance and wildfire-hardening in Santa Barbara County.

An electric locking mechanism in a gate's strike plate that releases on signal from a keypad, fob, intercom, or access control system — allowing controlled entry through a pedestrian gate without walking out to open it.

Geometry: mesh openings too tight for fingers and toes, no horizontal rails on the attack side, and appropriate height — designed to the security level the site actually needs.

Yes — itemized proposals, COIs, and a licensed, bonded crew (CA License #1082932). Tell us your spec and timeline and we'll tell you honestly whether we can hit both.

Ranch rail, no-climb woven wire with a top rail, or welded oil pipe for corrals and arenas. The priorities are visibility, smooth surfaces, and strength — barbed wire alone is not horse fence.

Fencing welded from repurposed steel oilfield pipe — extraordinarily strong, essentially maintenance-free, and ideal for corrals, arenas, and heavy-use gates. A working-ranch standard for good reason.

By the run: length, terrain, material, and the number of braces, corners, and gates. We'll walk the line with you and give you an itemized per-section quote.

Yes — one of our most common projects. Boards, height, and stain matched so it looks like it was always there.

They keep water out of the post's end grain — where rot starts — and they look better every year as the patina develops. Function first, beauty always.

A gate is a lever hanging off a post. Undersized posts, shallow footings, and light hinges give out over time. We prevent it with heavier posts, proper footings, diagonal bracing, and hardware rated well above the gate's weight.

Yes — that's an electronic strike installation. Keypad, fob, or intercom release on a pedestrian gate. Tell us how you want arrivals to work and we'll spec it.

Yes, when built correctly — cable spacing, tension, and frame stiffness are what keep cables compliant over time. Proper tensioning hardware and frame design are exactly where experience shows.

View decks favor cable or open steel; traditional homes favor wood; high-traffic and commercial settings favor steel. Budget, maintenance, and the view usually make the decision — we'll walk you through it.

Yes — railing upgrades on sound structures are common, and one of the fastest ways to transform how a space looks and feels.

Ipe, Cumaru, and Balau are the durability and beauty benchmark — dense, decades-long lifespan, ages to silver or holds color with oiling. Kebony gets close with better sustainability. Composite (Trex/TimberTech) wins on zero maintenance. Budget, sun exposure, and how you feel about upkeep decide it — we'll bring samples.

Both are premium capped composites with strong warranties. They differ in capping approach, texture and color ranges, and line-by-line pricing. We install both and will match the line to your project rather than pushing a brand.

A deck surface — porcelain pavers or wood tiles — floating on adjustable pedestals above a waterproof roof membrane. No membrane penetrations, perfectly level surface, full drainage beneath. It's the right way to deck a rooftop.

Frequently, yes — requirements vary with height, size, and attachment to the house. We handle the check for your property as part of design.

Usually fixed. Leaning is typically one or two failed posts or footings, not a failed fence. We repair the bad posts, re-set them properly, and leave the rest of your fence alone.

If the bones are sound, almost always. Repair plus stain-and-seal can add years of life for a fraction of replacement cost. If the bones are gone, we'll tell you that too — with an itemized quote either way.

Semi-transparent stains typically want refreshing every 2–3 years; quality oil-based opaque stains can go up to 5. On a maintenance plan, we track it so you don't have to.

Yes — up to 2x. Stain and sealer keep water out of the wood, and water is what drives rot, warping, and post failure. It's the highest-leverage money you can spend on a wood fence.

Call (805) 203-6165 — after big weather we prioritize fences that are down entirely, especially where pets or pools are involved.

There's no single answer — coastal sun, salt air, and budget all weigh in. Cedar is the classic; tropical hardwoods like Ipe are the durability ceiling; composite and aluminum trade higher up-front cost for near-zero maintenance. The guides on this page walk through the honest trade-offs.

Tropical hardwoods like Ipe and Cumaru, properly installed, outlast everything else in wood — and metal and composite can go decades with almost no care. Within any wood, lumber grade matters as much as species.

Wood costs less up front and has a warmth composite can't fully match, but wants staining every few years. Composite costs more initially, then asks nothing of you for decades. Sun exposure, budget, and your appetite for maintenance decide it.

Always. Materials decisions should be made holding the boards, not squinting at a screen — we bring samples of the materials on your shortlist to the consultation, and we'll stain a test board on your actual fence before a staining job.

For decks, gates, and fences you plan to keep for decades, often yes. Ipe is among the densest, most rot- and insect-resistant woods on earth — a properly built Ipe structure can outlast several softwood versions. The premium buys longevity, not just looks.

Both are extremely dense Brazilian hardwoods. Ipe is the benchmark — tighter grain, slightly better stability, highest cost. Cumaru delivers most of the same durability at a friendlier price, with a bit more color variation and movement. For many projects, Cumaru is the smart-money pick.

Red and Golden Balau are dense Southeast Asian hardwoods — strong, durable, and typically the most affordable of the tropical options. A great step into hardwood territory when Ipe or Cumaru stretch the budget.

Less than almost anything else. Left alone they weather to an elegant silver-gray; oiled once a year or so, they hold their rich brown color. Either way, the structure itself keeps performing for decades.

Western Red Cedar is the premium: richer color, better dimensional stability, higher grades available, and the classic look people picture when they say 'cedar fence.' Incense Cedar is a solid, more affordable California staple that performs well when properly built and sealed. Better depends on your budget and how long you want the fence to look its best.

Grade describes how clear the board is — how many knots, how tight, and where. Clear and heart grades have few to no knots and last dramatically longer; knotty and construction-common grades cost less but check, warp, and shed knots sooner. Two 'cedar fences' can differ by a decade of life purely on grade.

A high-grade Incense Cedar fence will outperform a low-grade Western Red Cedar one. Knots are weak points where boards crack and rot starts — fewer, tighter knots mean a longer-lived fence regardless of the label on the species.

Ask — and if the answer is vague, that's the answer. Our quotes name the species and the grade, and we bring samples of each so you can see exactly what you're comparing.

Sustainably grown softwood (typically pine) that's been permanently modified with a bio-based liquid and heat — a Norwegian-developed process that thickens the wood's cell walls. The result performs like a tropical hardwood: dramatically more stable, durable, and rot-resistant than the original wood.

Ipe is still the density king. But Kebony gets remarkably close on durability and stability, comes from certified sustainable forests instead of tropical ones, works more easily (no pre-drilling every hole), and typically carries a long manufacturer warranty. For clients who want hardwood performance with a lighter footprint, it's a compelling answer.

It starts a rich brown and weathers to a handsome silver-gray patina, like teak on a sailboat. The color change is purely cosmetic — the performance doesn't fade with the color.

Both, plus cladding and outdoor structures. We like it anywhere you want premium longevity and clean modern looks — decks, privacy fences, gates, and screens.

Neither, universally — which is exactly why it pays to hire a crew that installs both. Both make premium capped composite with strong warranties. They differ in capping approach, texture and color families, and how their product lines are tiered. The right answer depends on your project, sun exposure, and budget tier — not on brand loyalty.

Both brands tier their lines from entry to premium. As you move up, you get fuller capping, more realistic grain, deeper color blends, and longer fade-and-stain warranties. TimberTech's family also includes fully polymer (PVC) boards, which excel in high-heat and poolside settings; Trex's strength is its deep track record and consistent availability — including Trex Seclusions, the composite fencing system we're authorized to install.

It's a trade: higher cost up front, near-zero maintenance after. No staining, no sealing, no splinters, decades of warranty. Wood costs less initially and has warmth composite can't fully match — but asks for regular care. Sun exposure, budget, and your appetite for maintenance decide it.

Factory-backed training and warranty support for Trex's composite fencing system — not just familiarity with the catalog. It matters for warranty claims and for details like post spacing and bracket systems being done to spec.

Steel for strength and security — gates, commercial perimeters, anti-climb. Aluminum for clean modern lines with zero rust worry — ideal near the ocean. Ornamental iron for presence and tradition — estate fencing that reads as architecture. We build in all three and match the metal to the job.

Aluminum won't — that's its superpower, and why we like it in Santa Barbara's salt air. Steel and iron need proper prep and finish (galvanizing, powder coating) to live happily near the ocean; that's fabrication and finishing know-how, and it's exactly where experience shows.

Yes — steel and aluminum are non-combustible, which is why they anchor our fire-resistant fencing designs. In wildfire country, the first five feet from a structure matter most; a metal fence line doesn't carry flame to your home the way wood can.

A panelized horizontal aluminum fencing system — crisp modern lines that stay straight and true, with no rust and no repainting. We're QuickScreen authorized installers, which means factory-backed details and warranty support.

Because each material does one thing best. Steel gives you strength and thin, rigid frames; wood gives you warmth; stucco and masonry tie the fence to the house; cable disappears in front of a view. Mixing lets every part of the structure be the best version of itself.

Steel frames with wood infill for gates that never sag. Wood fencing between stucco or masonry columns. Cable railing with wood posts and caps for view decks. Copper caps on wood posts — protection that ages into jewelry. And hardwood gates set into painted walls for that Santa Barbara estate look.

Usually somewhat — there's more fabrication and more trades in one build. But it often costs less than doing the whole structure in the premium material, because you're spending the expensive material only where it shows or works hardest.

That's a design decision we make up front: woods that silver, metals that patina (copper especially), finishes that hold. We choose combinations that look better together in year ten, not just on day one.

Kevin Herlihy, who founded the company in Santa Barbara in 2020 and is still on jobsites today. When you work with Lighthouse, you're working with the owner's standards, not a franchise's.

Yes — CA License #1082932, licensed, bonded, and insured. We're also factory-authorized installers for Trex Fencing and QuickScreen Aluminum.

Three things clients mention most: communication (you always know what's happening and when), materials depth (we'll explain exactly what you're buying and why), and honesty — if something can be repaired instead of replaced, we'll tell you.

Santa Barbara was home to one of California's earliest lighthouses, and lighthouses guide sailors safely home. We think a well-designed yard should feel the same way — the name is our promise to guide your project home.

Yes — every photo in this gallery is our own work, built by our crew across the Santa Barbara South Coast and Santa Ynez Valley. No stock photos, no borrowed portfolios.

That's exactly how many projects start. Save the photo, call or text it to us at (805) 203-6165, and we'll design a version that fits your property, budget, and materials.

Almost certainly. Everything we build is designed from scratch, so the gallery is a starting point, not a catalog. Describe what you're imagining and we'll sketch it together at the consultation.