Cedar vs Pine Fence

Cedar and pressure treated pine have a lot in common but at the same time are very different. Both woods are resistant to rot and insects. Both woods are very popular choices for fencing in the DFW area. Both woods are an excellent choice for fencing and will last a very long time. Both products can be stained to your liking. But there is a big difference in the price of each. Our fence company chooses to utilize both of these woods among other materials to create a Premium fence for the price of most company’s Standard fence.

Treated pine is a wood that has chemically treated to resist rot and insects. This treatment lasts as long as the wood. A treated wood fence may last ten to twenty-five years depending on the care and environment. Of course fence staining is always recommended for longest lasting protection. Treated pine is delivered to the distributors wet. The wood is then stacked and it remains for the most part wet. One of the biggest differences between cedar and pressure treated pine is that the pine is prone to twisting, warping, and cracking during and after the drying process. Treated pine is significantly less expensive than cedar for a number of reasons and the final product which is not as stable as cedar is included. Although there is a solution. KDAT or kiln dried after treatment pine is treated pine lumber that is dried after the treatment process. This is a product that is more expensive than regular treated pine but less than cedar and we believe, a superior option to cedar when it comes to fence railing.

 Both cedar and treated pine are a time tested product in that they have been used for so long we can estimate how long these materials will last. In general it depends on the climate that you live in and the care that is taken but most likely your pine or cedar fence will last from 15 to 30 years. Cedar is naturally resistant to rot and insects because it has a natural tannin oil that protects it. Insects such as termites hate the taste and will move on to the next fence. Cedar is a lightweight wood whereas pine is heavier. When you use cedar for your pickets it will put less weight on the entire structure. At Denton Fence Pros we like to use the heavier KDAT pine wood for rails and cedar for the pickets to achieve the most long lasting natural fence available. Cedar is one of the most beautiful fencing options available with its real wood look and feel. And cedar has a wonderful aroma all to its own. Cedar is used in many capacities on the exterior and interior of properties including siding, fencing, furniture, and of course cedar chests.

The most cost effective fence you can build is going to be an all pressure treated pine fence. We recommend steel poles as this is the standard in the DFW market. Steel poles are an excellent choice and they also allow for the option of a steel framed gate which will open and close as intended for the life of the fence with very little adjustment. With an all pine fence you need to be fully advised and accept the fact that there will be some shrinkage, some twisting, and some cracking. Cedar is a much more stable wood with very little shrinkage, twisting, and cracking. Both materials or a combination of the two will make for a very long lasting fence. As stated if your budget allows, we recommend cedar pickets combined with KDAT lumber rails to achieve the highest quality fence.

Because of the warranty we offer we prefer to build every fence with steel poles and for your best interest we recommend the KDAT rails. Something we can save on significantly is using treated pine pickets. If you want complete privacy you will need to use cedar pickets because they don’t shrink. If you are ok with a side by side fence where the boards are butted next to each other then we can use the treated pine pickets. Just know the treated pine pickets will shrink and there will be some visibility between the pickets when close up. In some areas, pine fences are all they build. DFW happens to have a lot of cedar fences. With a side by side pine fence most of they time these will have a dog ear picket. The cedar pickets are also available with a dog ear or a flat top. The flat top allows for trim to be installed on the face and top of the fence. We like to include a bottom rot or kick board at the bottom of every fence which is a ground contact rated treated pine board. This keeps the bottom of the fence off the ground, provides support for the fence, serves as a pet barrier, and protects the fence from weed eaters.
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If you need some help designing your new fence please give us a call we look forward to earning your business.