Table of Contents
How far off the ground should a cedar fence be?
In most applications, a wood fence should be installed at least two inches off the ground. Your posts and rot boards (if you choose to install them) should be the only fence components that contact the ground. Wood pickets should never touch it.
Do you need to leave a gap between cedar fence boards?
When building a solid privacy fence, the fence boards are either butted tightly together, or spaced 3/8 to 1/4 inch apart to allow the wood to expand and contract in wet and dry weather.
How long will untreated cedar fence last?
Fences made of untreated cedar can last between 15 and 30 years, depending on how well you care for it and the specific cedar species used. If it’s treated, a cedar fence may last up to 40 years. Cedar consistently outlasts other wood species. A spruce fence typically lasts only four to seven years.
Can you put fence boards tight together?
For solid privacy fences, the fence boards can be butted tightly together or spaced 3/8 to 1/4 inch apart to allow for wood expansion and contraction during varying weather conditions.
Should a fence be level or follow the ground?
However, a level lot makes fence installation easier, which appeals to DIY novices. To make this decision, consider your land’s degree of slope. If there’s only a slight incline, leveling the lot makes sense. However, if your yard features a more drastic incline, consider working with the land’s natural topography.
Is cedar or pine 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.
How thick are cedar fence panels?
Our fence boards are full 3/4″ thick. This thicker board means less resistance to splitting and twisting, and older slow growth boards have a tighter grain to prevent shrinkage.
How far apart should fence posts be?
Typically, fence posts are spaced between six and eight feet apart. The corner posts are set first. To align all of the posts in between, stretch a line from each corner post to work as your guide.
How do I keep my fence board from warping?
To avoid swelling and shrinking, boards should be stacked uniformly according to thickness. The stickers placed between the boards should also be vertically aligned and lying flat. Lumber piles should also be placed on flat ground. Sometimes, cupping can be prevented by stacking weights on top of stacked lumber.
Do cedar fence pickets shrink?
Even though it’s the most commonly used wood, it is actually not the best wood for fence pickets—Cedar pickets are actually far more durable because they don’t shrink or warp and don’t need much maintenance or stain, unlike pine. Cedar is a straight grain wood that lasts much longer naturally and even longer stained.
Is a cedar fence worth it?
Cedar Wood Fences It’s non-toxic and insect resistance. It’s stable, and it doesn’t shrink, splinter, or warp, which makes it the perfect wood for building fences. Cedar truly stands the test of time, and maintains its look for decades. Cedar fence posts, though, aren’t as durable against soil as PTP is.
What is better pressure treated wood or cedar?
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.
Will a cedar fence rot?
Cedar has a reputation for durability, but unless a few guidelines are followed, cedar posts can fail in as few as five years. Three factors contribute to this early failure: poor drainage, low-quality wood and poor protection against insect damage.
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). Screws, on the other hand, secure the fence better than nails. They also ensure easier rework should you need to replace a damaged picket.
Should a fence touch the ground?
Should the Fence Touch the Ground? In most cases, no fence materials other than your fence posts should touch the ground. Allowing your fence to touch the ground makes yard maintenance more difficult and may increase the speed at which your fence suffers moisture damage, depending on the fence material used.
What is racking a fence?
Racking means adjusting the fence’s rails so that it matches the slope beneath it while the pickets and posts remain vertical. To rack a fence you’ll need to: Measure the angle of the slope, and then calculate the angle of the cuts that are needed on the rails.
What can I put at the bottom of my fence?
What Can I Put at the Bottom of a Fence to Keep Animals Out? Horizontal Board. Attach a board to the bottom of your fence. L-Shaped Footer. To keep out animals that dig, install an L-shaped footer made of galvanized, welded wire mesh underneath your fence. Poultry or Hex Netting. Rocks and Boulders.
What are the disadvantages of cedar wood?
Disadvantages of Cedar Wood Decking: Cost- Just like composite, cedar can be much more expensive than other wood. Fades to a weathered grey over the years, which can be a drawback to some people.
Does cedar need to be sealed?
Cedar offers a durable option for exterior and interior building projects with natural resistance to rot and decay, so a protective finish is optional. If you’re using cedar for an outdoor project, give it a light seal coat to guard against moisture and sunlight.
