The Materials We Use and Why We Use Them

In today's marketplace, it is difficult for consumers to make an educated decision. With the multitude of stores selling treated or red cedar materials, it is easy to assume that this is your best option when building a fence. Not to mention the online information from social media and various influencers. Consumers do not realize how untrue that information is. Treated boards are certainly the least expensive way to go. This is the main reason so many stores prefer to offer it. However, as most people know, you get what you pay for. In terms of Red Cedar, there are a multitude of disadvantages in using it. Red Cedar mainly grows in Oregon. It is a larger tree and is darker in color. Over time, Red Cedar will fade to almost black. Red Cedar does not have a natural preventative again rot and decay like Northern White Cedar. Therefore, it's lifespan is much shorter. Red Cedar's grain is very different from that of White Cedar. Its grain promotes splitting and checking in the boards. Northern White Cedar boards have cells that absorb very little water or moisture. It has natural inhibitors to fight off rot and decay. In addition, White Cedar is one of the more stable woods available to the building industry. It will shrink less than one percent, and rarely warps, twists or cups - unlike treated wood, generally made from Yellow Pine, and famous for all three unwanted characteristics. The unrelenting soaking, freezing, and drying cycles of the environment play havoc on all kinds of wood. According to the US Forestry Service, treated wood is no better than White Cedar at withstanding the rigors of Ohio weather. In fact, it may not work as well, since the species selected for treatment are chosen specifically for their ability to soak up moisture. This allows the wood to soak up the chemical treatments. Just as a wooden ship is constructed with a variety of wood species for a purpose, your wood fence can also benefit from using a variety of species. In other words, treated materials do have a place in the construction of a fence. Typical Ohio soil contains a lot clay, and does not drain well. Combine this problem with the correct construction method of setting posts in a concrete footer, and you have the dilemma of trapped moisture in and around the post. This is an ideal environment for the decay fungus to operate in. Therefore we recommend using treated wood for the posts, preferably made of Red Pine. For additional information on White Cedar that is used for fences see the National Forestry Services website.