Fencing Question: Which is better, Cedar, or pressure treated?

Question

I am going to get a 6 foot wood privacy fence. I was told that even if I get Cedar that it would still have to be treated and stained to keep the weather out, after it dries out, just like pressure treated wood. Cedar is more expensive and looks better. I am thinking about just getting the pressure treated and waiting until it dries out and then staining it and weather proofing it. Does anyone have experience with this?

Answer 1

I would go with the pressure treated and then use a solid hide stain to make it look like cedar, it will last longer.

Answer 2

Aaron is right. Pressure treated is cheaper and turns grey over time. Cedar is expensive and turns grey over time. And pressure treated will last longer, as cedar oils eventually leave the cedar wood, causing it to rot (proven by rotting cedar stumps around my property.) Just get the pressure treated and stain with a cedar stain. It will look great. Wait at least six months before staining; this is so the elements, mainly the sun, will bleach out any areas of the wood where the green (copper naphthanate) in the wood is uneven or blotchy, giving a more natural substrate on which to apply the stain. I've got this all around my house, using the above techniques, and I get compliments on my fencing all the time...

Answer 3

Cedar is woth the extra money. Not only does it look better, it weathers much better than pressure treated wood. You don't have to apply a wood preservative to cedar, and it is naturally insect resistant.

Answer 4

The nice thing about cedar is that it doesn't necessarily have to be weather treated. Cedar is naturally weather resistant, and has a great life span, although it is pricey. You can use a thompson waterseal to better promote life expectancy on the cedar.

Answer 5

CEDAR IS THE BEST APPLICATION FOR FENCING IT HAS A NATURAL RESISTANCE TO BUGS ROT AND MOLD AND IT IS A VERY SOFT WOOD AND DOES NOT WARP TREATED WOOD ON THE OTHER HAND IS JUST REGULAR WHITE WOOD PINE SPRAYED WITH CHEMICALS AND BELEIVE ME IT IS NOT QUALITY LUMBER ALMOST EVERY PICKET YOU BUY WILL WARP SPLIT OR CRACK ONE TIME OR ANOTHER AND IT IS NOT FULLY RESISTANT TO WOOD BOARING INSECTS TREATED PICKETS LAST ONLY ABOUT TEN YEARS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS CEDARCAN LAST UP TO25 YEARS BUT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Answer 6

I prefer Cedar, it looks better.

Answer 7

cedar