What kind of wood is good for fences?

The most popular woods used for fencing are pine and cedar, though cypress and redwood are also good options. Pine wood is common because of its relatively inexpensive cost and longevity.

What is the best type of wood to use for a fence?

Redwood is one of the most widely used wood types for wooden fencing. It is expensive, but it more than compensates for its price with durability, quality, and beauty. It is naturally resistant to rot and insects. It is therefore considered the best wood for fencing.

What type of wood fence lasts the longest?

Redwood, cedar or pressure-treated pine last the longest. A fence can last about 20 years, if made of a turnout resistant wood. Then posts are usually the first to go; panels survive longer because they typically don't touch the ground. Fences must withstand year-round exposure to the element.

Should I use treated wood for fence?

In buying wood for fences, people should get pressure-treated wood for posts, says Ethan Elaison, co-owner of Elaison Lumber in Fresno. Posts should be pressure-treated because they go into the ground, where they are susceptible to insects and moisture.

What is standard wood for fence?

Fencing wood comes most commonly in pine and cedar, though cypress, redwood, spruce are good options, depending on your needs.

The Details of Wood Fence Types

Is pine or cedar better for a fence?

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.

Is it better to nail or screw fence boards?

Nails are faster than screws to install, meaning less labor for you or your builder (which may translate into lower installation cost). However, nails are more likely than screws to grow loose over time. Screws, on the other hand, secure the fence better than nails.

What lasts longer cedar or pressure treated?

When it comes to comparing treated wood vs. cedar, pressure-treated wood is the sturdier and more weather-proof of the two. It's highly resistant to insect attack and rot, and special versions rated for “ground contact” can be buried in soil and will continue to shrug off decay for decades.

Is pressure treated wood OK for fence?

Pressure-treated wood is a strong and durable material. It's treated with a preservative to protect against rot, decay and termite attack. Pressure-treated fences are safe for you, your kids and your pets when used in accordance with the Safe Handling Information Sheet.

What is the cheapest wood for a fence?

Treated pine is the most affordable and durable wood option, with HomeAdvisor estimating approximately $1 to $5 per linear foot for a 6-foot tall privacy fence board. Pressure treated pine will be more durable than regular pine over time, so it is a good value even though it costs a bit more.

What is cheaper cedar or redwood?

Redwood is more durable, but the cost is around 20% more expensive, on average, than cedar. Redwood may be a slightly better wood, but the cost and access make cedar the winner.

How long will a pressure-treated wood fence last?

But how long do pressure-treated wooden fences actually last? From what we've seen during our last 12 years of business, a typical pressure-treated wooden fence lifespan is about 15-20 years. Around the 15-year mark is when most homeowners report seeing noticeable aesthetic declines, like rotting and splitting.

What is the strongest fence?

Vinyl Fencing

Vinyl sits at number one in the ranking as a virtually indestructible, weather resistant option that requires little to no maintenance.

Which is better for fencing redwood or cedar?

Redwood Fencing is measurably stronger than cedar – by about 23%. Redwood is therefore more durable than cedar.

Should fence posts be cedar or pressure treated?

While cedar's tight grain, resistance to rot, and lack of knots make for optimal fence material – it is less durable against soil than pressure treated pine (in 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.

Is cedar more expensive than treated wood?

Cedar may not be the most expensive wood on the market, but its price is still significantly higher than most woods. In comparison, pressure-treated wood costs way less than Cedar. So if you were to choose between Cedar and pressure-treated lumber and cost is a factor, it may as easily be a deal-breaker for you.

How long will pressure treated 4x4 last in the ground?

A treated 4×4 will last 20 to 25 years in the ground if the conditions in the soil and climate are favorable. That number could increase to 40 to 75 years if you install the treated 4×4 in a cement ring rather than the soil. There are a few factors that influence how long the 4×4 can last in the ground.

What is the best wood for outdoor use?

What are the disadvantages of cedar wood?

Does cedar fence need to be sealed?

Cleaning and general maintenance is necessary to preserve cedar wood fences. If cared for properly, a cedar fence will remain attractive and structurally sound for many years to come. Apply a waterproofing sealer to the cedar fence to protect the wood from splintering, cracking and warping due to the weather elements.

Should I leave a gap between fence boards?

If you're installing the boards horizontal, you'll want to leave 1/4 in -1 inches of space between the boards. For privacy purposes, get the boards as close together as you can. If it's impossible to do that, or you're worried about shrinking and expanding, leave 1/8 inch between each board.

How far apart should fence posts be?

Most fence posts can be spaced 8 to 12 feet apart. While this is a general criteria, it doesn't cover all scenarios. For instance, high tensile fence can have larger spacing, requiring line posts every 15 to 20 feet for field fence styles, and as much as 20-30 feet for high tensile barbed and smooth wire.

How many bags of cement do I need for a fence post?

1 – 4 bags of concrete per fence post are typically what's needed. This depends on the type of soil, fence design, height, post size and bag weight. In general the depth of the post's hole needs to be 1/3 to 1/2 of the above ground height of the post.

Do cedar pickets last longer than pine?

If you're looking to make a lengthy investment, consider the fact that cedar fences will stand, with no maintenance, for up to 25 years. Meanwhile, pressure treated pine last up to 15 years, provided you are regularly maintaining it.

How long will a cedar fence last?

How long will a cedar fence last? If left to weather, it will last approximately 12 years in the ground and 15-20 years above ground.