What’s the difference between cedar, redwood, and pressure-treated? Each type of wood has different pros and cons. Cedar is a beautiful choice for fencing that gives you that traditional look. The main downside to cedar is its short lifespan when exposed to sun or rain. You can expect your cedar fence to last about 15 years before needing replacement. Redwood has stronger properties than cedar but also fares worse against sunlight exposure. This makes it an excellent choice if you live in a moist climate because redwood won’t warp or rot in rainy conditions, unlike cedar will. The average life expectancy of a redwood fence is approximately 25 years – making it the longest-lived wood type on this list! Pressure-treated wood is the most affordable option for fencing. It also holds up well in moist climates but isn’t as strong as cedar or redwood. A pressure-treated fence typically lasts 10 to 15 years before needing replacement.
What do I need to know about wooden slats vs pickets? Wooden slats are more cost-effective and have a greater variety of styles compared to picket fencing. You can easily paint or stain a wooden slat fence so you can get a customized look for your property. On the downside, it’s easy for small animals and bugs to squeeze through the spaces between vertical boards on a wooden slat fence. Picket fences give you that traditional white-picket-fence look while adding privacy and security from unwanted visitors. The downside to picket fencing is that you’ll need to regularly paint or stain them or else they’ll fade and crack over time due to sun exposure – plus the spaces between boards will trap snow, leaves, and other debris.
What’s the best type of spacing for my fence? It all depends on how you want it to look and what your purpose is! Linear spacing means every horizontal board in your fence will be lined up next to each other (also known as close-boarded). This gives a neat and organized appearance along with maximum privacy because no one can see through the wood slats. Board-on-board spacing involves alternating vertical boards so they overlap each other (also known as open-boarded). This gives your fence a more rustic look with less privacy.
How tall should my fence be? The average height for a wooden fence is 6 feet, but you can go up to 8 feet tall if you want it to really stand out. If you’re putting up a wood fence around an above-ground pool, then the fence should be at least 4 feet tall so children don’t accidentally fall in the water when they try to climb over it.
What are some safety precautions I should take? Wooden fences need routine checkups and maintenance jobs because weather elements like rain, sun, snow, ice, salt, and humidity can damage them or cause warping. These factors cause the wood slats to shrink when exposed to moisture and expand when exposed to dry conditions. Fences with warped boards are more likely to fall apart, so it’s important to replace any loose nails and install new hardware as needed. You should also make sure your wood fence is properly braced; otherwise, the wind can cause it to lean or topple over! Wooden fences aren’t childproof – you should give some thought to how you’re going to prevent children from climbing it or falling off of it.
What type of maintenance responsibilities will I have? The most time-consuming responsibility that comes with owning wooden fencing is regular upkeep – but if you take care of your fence then there really isn’t too much work involved. Just do a quick inspection every month for warped boards and replace them as soon as possible so they don’t become a safety hazard. Keep an eye out for loose nails and screws as well; those should be tightened immediately or replaced with new hardware. You may also need to repaint your fence every two to three years depending on the color you choose, and regularly clear away any debris that gets trapped between boards.
Wood fences look great and can give you extra privacy, security, and curb appeal – plus they’re fairly affordable! They require more maintenance than vinyl or aluminum fencing though so make sure you know what type of responsibility comes with owning one before making a purchase.