Why cedar fence

Since pine must be pressure-treated to resist the elements and other wear and tear, it does not have the most natural look and can even have a slight greenish hue in places. Cedar does not need to be treated with chemicals in the same way.

For this reason, cedar is generally considered to be the more natural-looking and more attractive option. Generally, pine is used in an indoor setting, rather than outside. It is a readily available and affordable softwood, making it a good choice for furniture like cabinets, wardrobes, tables, and drawers, as well as frames around windows and doors. It can be painted and stained easily, offering versatility for interior design and decoration but must be chemically treated when used outdoors.

Cedar is a softwood like pine but is tougher and more resistant overall, able to withstand the outdoor elements without requiring treatment. This makes it a popular choice for outdoor tables and yard furniture. Cedar also has many indoor uses for items like wardrobes, chests, and musical instruments and is popular for its red look and unique grain. They both work for fences equally well but have different aesthetic qualities and durability standards.

Cedar is often used when people want a beautiful and long-lasting fence, while pine is used for those who prefer something more affordable. For installation, there is not a huge difference between pine and cedar fences, but there are a couple of factors to keep in mind. Cedar planks tend to weigh less than pressure-treated pine, for example, so they are easier to carry around and lift. Cedar is rarer and harder to find in hardware stores than pine, which is more readily available, so this could affect your installation schedule.

Generally, professional installation is recommended to install a fence, but those with plenty of DIY experience and friends or family members to help out may be able to do it themselves.

Cedar is generally more expensive than pressure-treated pine. The reasons behind this are that cedar is rarer, more resistant, and generally considered more attractive. One of the major differences between cedar and pine fences is that pine has to be pressure-treated, meaning that various chemical preservatives are applied to the planks to protect them from weather, bugs, and other outdoor elements that would usually cause the wood to rot and break down.

Pine fences also require additional maintenance to prevent rotting over time. They need to be cleaned and checked on an annual basis, with any rotting pieces replaced.

Regular sealing and repainting or re-staining are also necessary with this wood. Cedar, however, does not need to be pressure-treated to withstand the elements and is considered stronger overall than pine. It requires less maintenance but still requires care.

Cedar fences should be cleaned annually with a water-and-soap solution and checked regularly for any loose boards or signs of rot. Cedar is generally regarded as the stronger and more durable of these two woods. It does not need any special treatment and stands up well to the elements, with a low risk of warping and shrinking.

Pine, on the other hand, is more at risk of buckling, warping, and shrinking. It is also more sensitive overall to the outdoors. Without proper care, pine can start to look damaged and weathered within just a few years.

Even though cedar is more durable, pressure-treated pine has a stronger resistance to soil. For this reason, many people choose pine for the fence posts 2 and cedar for the fence panels. A pine fence has an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, while a cedar fence can last anywhere from 20 to 25 years when properly maintained.

In general, this means that pine lasts about half as long as cedar, but you can extend the lifespan of your fence by checking and cleaning it regularly. Odor is one area where cedar has the clear advantage.

Pine fences do not have a discernible smell, but cedar is well-known for its pleasing aroma. This partly accounts for why it is so popular for indoor furniture and cabin flooring. The main reason cedar smells so nice is due to a compound called thujaplicin. You often get a few streaks and bands of darker graining. Some cedar pickets also feature knots, which many homeowners value aesthetically. Some homeowners shy away from wood fencing because they don't want to have to maintain it. Cedar fencing does require some maintenance.

However, the required maintenance is a lot less than other fencing woods. The main maintenance that you'd incur with a cedar fence is the initial application of a protective coating. Indeed, your fencing contractors can provide that service for you. After that, you may choose to reapply the protective coating every few years.

You may also want to practice standard fencing maintenance tasks, such as inspecting it for breaks or splinters. Cedar is known for its durability. It features natural oils that help the wood be resistant to rotting. Indeed, Western Red Cedar has been rated as durable to very durable in its resistance to decay. Therefore, a cedar privacy fence maintains its structural integrity for a long time - often longer than pressure-treated wood.

Cedar withstands inclement weather conditions well. The natural oils in the wood also make it resistant to warping and shrinkage. So, the cedar pickets are less likely to buckle or splinter. The cedar privacy fence will hold its shape for a long time.

As such, all of our Western Red Cedar fences are guaranteed for 20 years. Red Cedar wood is such high quality in terms of looks and strength, that we are confident it will continue to do its job — day in, day out.

It can cope with all of the elements which is one of the main reasons why we use it as one of the main choices for our fences. Red Cedar almost evolves as it goes. Low levels of moisture in fencing are often what cause the wood to crack or warp, particularly in our climate during our freeze and thaw cycles.

Knowing that your fencing will retain its original shape without warping is peace of mind that the initial clean lines and structure of your fencing will remain intact. Red Cedar wood has high levels of oils and tannins which strengthen and fortify the wood making it naturally resistant to the many kinds of rot we see within our climate.

The preserving qualities of the oils serve as a fantastic barrier and really enhance the life cycle and strength of the timber — without the vulnerability to rot or decay which our weather usually brings. Wood has a tendency to wear relatively quickly. But cedar is the exception to the rule. Cedar lasts remarkably long without falling victim to the elements. It also resists the damages caused by insects, which by the way, are often attracted to fences that are adversely affected by rot.