Cedar Fence Supplies & Materials

Western Red Cedar is the preferred fence material recommended by industry professionals. Cedar is resilient to damage from insects, is decay resistance, and is pitch and resin free, which means it is ideal to hold a mixture stains ranging from elegant dark stains to semi-transparent stains which makes it a very flexible fencing material to use for property owners in Texas. In addition to these strengths, cedar is beautiful to look at, wonderful to smell and provides dimensional stability, so customers can be confident their fence will stand the test of time. This product creates beautiful, long-lasting cedar fences that can add help enhance the appeal of your property.

When you’re looking for quality fence materials for a cedar fence project, turn to Viking Fence Dallas. We’re the leading source for cedar boards and other cedar fence supplies. Our excellent team will supply you with the best of the best when it comes to wood fence materials.

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) is a durable American softwood that grows throughout the Pacific Northwest Region. Its unique natural properties make it one of the best materials for building attractive, long-lasting fencing. Western Red Cedar is a slow growing evergreen coniferous tree that can live for over 1,000 years, a testament to its exceptional resilience. Its vertical growth pattern and tall height of 65 to 70 meters make it an ideal source of quality timber with straight, uninterrupted grain.

One of the greatest advantages of Western Red Cedar fencing over other wood fencing materials is its natural resistance to decay and pests. If you are concerned about the long-term appearance or integrity of your fence, cedar is the ideal material choice. It is also a low density wood, which makes it lightweight, easy to work, and superior in its insulation value. A well-built cedar fence will retain its natural beauty, shape, and durability for years without the use of harmful chemical preservatives or dyes.

  • Select – 5/4” board (1” thick), appearance grade, smooth on all 4 sides (custom order)
  • Select #2 – 3/4” thick board, graded for tight knot, no-hole boards
  • Select #3 – 3/4” thick board, Economy/Builder’s grade (rustic)

Cedar is often identifiable by its distinctive red color. It is a beautiful softwood that gives any fence an appealing natural look without the use of additional dyes or finishes. As the wood ages, it transitions from red to a more subtle light gray color. If you wish for your fence to maintain a consistent appearance rather than age naturally, it can be stained and finished to preserve its color. Western Red Cedar is tolerant to a variety of finishes and may be finished with your choice of coating, paint, or stain.

Western Red Cedar is known for being one of the most durable softwood species available because it is highly resistant to decay. Its wood contains natural fungicidal compounds called thujaplicins, which prevent the growth of fungus and the resulting breakdown of wood. Thujic acid is another type of preventative compound in cedar that makes it less desirable for insects. These unique properties make Western Red Cedar a durable, hearty fencing product that can withstand wear from weather and pests.

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Cedar remains reliably straight in its original shape because of the natural stability of the heartwood. Rather than warping when the air humidity changes, it has a low shrinkage factor that allows it to maintain its structural integrity. Cedar boards can withstand drastic changes in weather without checking (cracking), warping, or twisting.

Western Red Cedar’s natural chemical compounds make it a less attractive option for termites and other pests. It is considered a “non-preferred” species for insects, meaning that if other species of wood are available nearby, termites and wood borers will opt to go after these less resistant types. When Red Cedar is the only tree species present in an area, pests are known to attack it (Carter and Smythe 1974; Mannesmann 1973; Su and Tamashiro 1986). However, cedar is reportedly harmful to termites and ingestion of the wood leads to higher pest mortality. If you develop a termite problem on your property, it is strongly recommended that you have your home and yard checked and treated by a pest control specialist.

Western Red Cedar is found in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and in British Columbia, Canada. The amount of cedar that can be harvested from British Columbia is closely regulated and cannot exceed the Annual Allowable Cut, which is set by the Ministry of Forests each year. The Ministry regularly reviews the timber supply and updates the BC Forest Practices Code to adjust the limits and prescribed penalties so that this valuable resource continues to be harvested in a sustainable manner.

Approximately 11.2 million board feet of Western Red Cedar is harvested in British Columbia each year, based on a five-year average (1997-2001). In percentage terms, less than 1% of BC’s cedar resources are extracted each year, with replacement trees planted every year. According to the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, approximately 3 trees are planted to replace each tree that is harvested annually. These trees are planted in recently logged areas to allow for environmental restoration and to ensure that the tree supply is preserved.

At Viking Fence, we occasionally offer other types of cedar in addition to our Western Red Cedar fencing. These include inland cedar, a subspecies of Western Red Cedar, and incense cedar, also found in the northwestern U.S. These types of cedar possess the same high quality and durability but are less red in color because of different soil conditions. If you are interested in one of these options, contact us to determine availability.

Many fencing companies advertise their cedar fence products but do not specify what type of cedar they sell. Beware of any offers for cedar fencing if the company will not explicitly tell you that the material is Western Red Cedar.

Contrary to its name, Eastern Red Cedar is not a true cedar. It is actually a common species of juniper that is found throughout the eastern United States. Juniper is much less robust than its western cousin, lacking both the dimensional stability and decay resistance that characterize Western Red Cedar.

This type of tree is also not a real cedar but is actually a fir. It has been imported from China to Australia and New Zealand over the past 20 years and has not shown promise as a quality building material. It is now being sold in the U.S. as a low-cost material, and some fencing companies try to market it as cedar even though it is an inferior product.

Pine is used by some fencing companies because it is a low-cost fencing product. However, it lacks dimensional stability and will begin to warp over time from exposure to the elements. It is also not naturally resistant to decay, so it must be treated with harsh chemicals to prolong its lifespan. Pine fences begin to age and decay in just a few years and are vulnerable to pest attacks.

These products do not meet the standard of quality at Viking Fence and are not recommended for fencing.

For a free quote on your preferred fencing option, please use our online Estimate Request Form or contact us today at 512-837-6411.

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