CEDAR vs. PINE

When it comes to the battle for the crown of “Best Wood Fencing Material”, two knockout champs remain: Cedar and Pine. That’s right. When it comes down to the title round, these two are so closed matched in positive attributes that it can easily go either way. The bottom line really depends on your bottom line. What qualities are most important to you in choosing the best wood for your deck or fencing investment? For some home or business owners, it’s budget. For others, durability. Others are drawn to particular aesthetic qualities found in each. So how do you choose which is best for your project? Here’s a closer look at how the two stack up:

	CEDAR	PINE
APPEARANCE	beautiful grain due to slow growth	fast growth=large knots & low grain
PRESSURE TREATED?	not treated	treated prior to lumberyard
CHEMICALS	chemical free	“out-gassing” due to treated logs
MOLD & DECAY	closed cell structure=won’t absorb water=decay resistant	open cell structure=water absorption=mold growth & decay
USE AS FENCE POSTS	cement (in base) causes pole to rot; lasts 6-7 yrs	recommended; lasts 10-15 yrs
COLOR	unstained ages to silvery grey	treated ages to golden color
STAINING	often stained to preserve color & appearance. must apply sealer	may be stained or left unstained.
PAINTING	not recommended	paints well
MAINTENANCE	restain & reseal every 5 yrs	repaint/restain & reseal every 5 yrs
AVAILABILITY	can be scarce	common
PRICE	more expensive	affordable

Again, although Cedar is probably the prevailing choice among many professionals, there are still quite a few purists for whom Pine will always be number one. At the end of the day, both are excellent choices for most applications.                                        

At American Fence & Gate, we can install or repair most any type of fence for your commercial or residential property. With over 30 years experience in fencing, decking and more, you can rest assured that American Fence & Gate will get the job done quickly, and get it done well. Questions? Give us a call today at (615) 378-5112. We look forward to serving you!

To learn more about special savings and offers from American Fence & Gate, click here: www.fence-and-gate-professionals-tn

DAVIDSON COUNTY  |  WILLIAMSON COUNTY  |  RUTHERFORD COUNTY