| Wood fences are beautiful, no doubt, and (PVC) vinyl fences even come with simulated options making man-made materials look and feel nature based.
But in Virginia, cedar wood and pressure-treated pine are two of our top-selling residential fence types. |
Eighty percent of all wood fencing is composed of either pine or cedar wood. Below are various residential fence solutions available throughout the United States. | |
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| Red cedar trees are indigenous to the American Northwest and Canada. The red cedar wood's straight, tight grain and lack of knots make for optimal fence material. It is naturally highly resistant to decomposition, displays a beautiful red hue, and is well-known for its' aromatic woodsy smell.
Cedar does not warp or shrink and is a naturally stable material perfect for picket and privacy fences. Cedar wood fences stand the test of time, and look great decades after installation.
For fence posts, cedar can go several years without rotting; however, they tend to be less durable against soil erosion than pressure treated pine posts. For this reason, it may be a good idea to use pressure treated pine for the posts and cedar for the rest of the fence. |
Or, the cedar fence posts can be set in concrete to prevent soil-related rotting. Pressure treated wood (PTP) is the most popular residential fence choice in outdoor structures (decks, porches, and all types of residential fences, for example). PTP can warp, shrink, and crack. The sun makes any outdoor damage worse especially if you don't stain it. To avoid this, pressure treated pine (PTP) is chemically-treated in order to prevent against decay, termites, weathering, and other pine-related troubles. All PTP fences come with a warranty to protect against termites and rotting. |
PTP fences need to be consistently and regularly maintained. It is recommended that all pressure treated pine fencing should be stained and sealed about 6 weeks after installation to improve and maintain a handsome appearance and prevent rot.
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Keeping your pressure treated fence wet when it is hot or exposed to the sun can also be done to maintain your pine fence and keep the fence from cracking. Staining, sealing, moistening, stripping, and cleaning are all maintenance techniques that are commonly used and recommended for pressure treated pine fences. Cedar is increasingly rare and thus more expensive than pine. However, cedar stands up to the test of time and it's aroma and handsome appearance coupled with the comparatively low required maintenance make it a smart investment. These incentives outweigh the cons for most people who are strongly considering cedar as a fence material. Knowing the pros and cons of each type of wood type will help to make an informed decision when choosing the fence and fence company that fits your needs. |
