Is cedar the top choice for wood fence materials?
Most cedar wood fencing materials today are harvested from new growth cedar trees. The reason for this being that restrictions on North American forestry has resulted in a decrease of materials derived from old growth. In fact, the majority of cedar fencing comes from the sapwood of trees, often from abundant tree species such as incense cedar and white fir.
Fence materials made of pine tend to be extremely durable and, once treated with ACQ or ACQ2, impenetrable. It is worth noting that, as the trees dry following treatment, white and red fence posts tend to form cracks. This is a natural process that doesn’t ordinarily compromise the posts’ strength. Until the cracks become so deep that they pass all the way through the post, you shouldn’t become concerned.
Red and white pine posts tend to twist with the uneven drying. This, too, does not diminish the quality or longevity of your fence post.
What is the difference between heartwood and sapwood?
Heartwood is essentially functioning as the spine. Consisting of the dark core of the tree, heartwood contains very little moisture and is consequently less prone to shrinking as it dries out. Lack of moisture also means heartwood develops fungus less easily than sapwood. Sapwood is the part of the tree through which sap and water flows.
Should I use cedar fence posts or treated pine fence posts?
We recommend using cedar or treated pine if the concrete has been applied at the footing of your fence posts. (The purpose of placing concrete here to shed water away from the base of your fence.) American Security and Gate Company uses premium cedar posts treated with ACQ2. Please note that even though treated cedar pine fence posts tend to form slight twists and cracks in their shape, as well as cracks, they tend to last longer than cedar. Less common in cedar are cracks, although the wood fence posts may occasionally warp. If not stained, they might also gray out.
Are treated materials safe for wood fences in Fargo?
This is a valid question, and we recommend industry-approved, ACQ-treated fence posts. We also recommend avoiding CCA (Cooper Chromate Arsenic) fence materials. If you’re unsure how the materials are coated, look for a tag at either end of the post. For additional questions, contact our staff here at the top wood fence contractor in Fargo, North Dakota.
Should I stain wood fences in Fargo?
To help retain the reddish or blonde color of your fence, consider staining within six weeks of installation. Because the fence needs to be completely dry before staining begins, we suggest waiting until a full week of no rain has passed.
Also, the staining process tends to be a messy. Overspray can end up on your house or your neighbor’s property, so only apply fence staining on calm, dry days. Tape off adjoining structures and lay drop clothes to help prevent staining from ending up on your grass. The best way to stain a wood fence, however, is to hire a fence company that employs insured fence staining experts in Fargo, ND.
Plan to re-stain your wood fence every 2-3 years. Ensure that your fence is not constantly subjected to sprinklers, as this can cause discoloration in uneven, unappealing splotches. Brush staining a wood fence can be tricky because of the coarse surface. Rolling-on staining tends to be easier, but the process results in more drips and runny patches. Spraying is very effective in the hands of an experienced professional with a keen sense of determining when the right amount of staining has been applied. To even out the staining application and produce optimal results, first spray the fence and then quickly follow up with a brush staining.