Written by Laura Braden
Are you looking for that perfect wood fence made from the best quality material on the market? Do you want a wood fence that will stand the test of time, weather, and stress? Then let us introduce you to our Western Red Cedar fencing material. Most fence companies swear by this material and there are many good reasons why!
An Overview
We say with confidence that western red cedar is the best wood material you can use for your fence. Take a look at this list of reasons why!
- It is strong and stable
- It is naturally “treated” with oils that protect it from all kinds of weather elements and even insects!
- It is resistant to shrinking
- It is resistant to decomposition
- It has beautiful, natural red coloring
- It has a long life span. One thing we know for sure is that there will be no need to make plans for future repairs or replacements for some time
- It is light weight
A Brief Biology Lesson
The Western red Cedar is and has been commonly found in abundance in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Other populations can be found in Canada and British Columbia. They have fissured bark that peels off easily when the tree reaches maturity. This species can also be rather irregular in shape and can grow up to 230 feet in height. The wood of this tree contains a chemical called thujaplicin, which is what helps it repel insects and also gives it a long life span, making it a great fencing material like we mentioned before.
A History
Recorded history of western red cedars dates back to its use by Native Americans and aboriginals. It was an extremely versatile and useful material, used to make everything from clothing to boats. Ever heard of the tree of life? The term was coined from way back when it was used as a nickname for the western red cedar. Ever since, it has been recognized because of its usefulness and longevity.
A Pro’s Opinion
In order to get some first hand information on the subject, let’s hear from our installation manager. Eric started out working for Frederick Fence as an installer at a young age. Here is what he has to say about our topic of cedar:
“Pressure treated pine boards nowadays are being grown quicker with the use of steroids. Because of this, the growth rings are further apart, which causes the boards to warp over time. This does not happen with cedar because the growth rings are extremely close together due to a longer, better quality growth period.
Pine boards also have more knots than cedar. This tends to cause issues with warping, etc. Cedar is just not going to warp. An exception can happen if a certain board has a knot in a bad place, but 9 1/2 times out of 10 you will not have an issue for many years down the road. Probably not even then.
The price really starts to go up when you talk about Cedar, but one thing is for sure: you are getting what you pay for! A long lasting fence that will also look great!”
Pro tip:
One attribute about cedar wood fence panels is that they don’t do so well in the ground against soils. So, your salesman might suggest or insist that you use pressure treated pine for the posts and cedar for the rest. This is because pressure treated pine has been treated with chemicals that protect it from eroding in the soil.
Pop Quiz!
Now, based on what you have learned from this blog, we want you to take a close look at the two pictures below. They are the same style of fence, but one is made out of pressure treated pine, and the other out of western red cedar wood fence panels. Can you tell the difference?
We hope this has helped you make the decision to choose a fence that will last well up to twenty years! Believe us when we say it is a worth while investment.
Sources: https://owlcation.com/stem/Interesting-Facts-About-Western-Red-Cedar-in-Nature-and-Culture https://theamericanfencecompany.com/2014/11/03/western-red-cedar-premier-choice-woo https://www.readyseal.com/best-wood-for-fencing/
