Cedar Fencing: Is It Right for You?

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Your fence makes a larger statement than nearly anything else around your home, but how it functions is just as important as its aesthetic appeal. If you’re in the market for a fence upgrade, getting a wealth of information before you make a purchase is extremely important.

You might have heard about cedar fencing or seen a neighbor with cedar fencing. Here’s what you need to know about this type of fencing before you install it at your home or property.

“In addition to the look and smell, cedar is incredibly durable. It doesn’t warp or shrink as much as other materials, such as pine.”

Why Cedar Fencing?

Let’s say you step next to a new wooden fence. If it’s cedar, the first thing you’ll notice is the smell. There’s nothing quite like a cedar fence. It’s similar to the way people feel about a real Christmas tree. You can’t fake that smell; you always know a real tree when you get next to it. The same holds true for a cedar fence. It’s very pleasant and meshes well with the natural outdoor elements.

In addition to the look and smell, cedar is incredibly durable. It doesn’t warp or shrink as much as other materials, such as pine. It doesn’t even have to be pressure-treated to preserve the look or enhance durability.

Cedar fences have an incredibly long lifespan of nearly 25 years. As long as you keep up with the maintenance, you’ll be able to get years out of your investment.

If you’re concerned about the environment, you’ll be pleased to know that cedar fencing honors the environment in a big way. It doesn’t have any chemical treatment requirements, which means that fewer chemicals are seeping into the soil and the water supply around your property. Compare this with good old-fashioned pine, and you’ll find that the pressure-treating chemicals used with pine wooden fences leach into the water supply, which affects everyone.

We can all afford to do our part to be more eco-friendly, and installing cedar fencing is an excellent step in the right direction.

Disadvantages of Cedar Fences

While cedar fencing has plenty of advantages, it’s essential that we explain the disadvantages of the wooden fence as well. Cedar’s primary disadvantage is that it comes at a premium: it is often twice the price of other woods. It is also weaker in humid areas. The greater Austin area certainly knows a few things about humidity, which is why fences around here often get replaced in the first place.

Like many types of wooden fences, cedar tends to be less soil-resistant. It also has a higher maintenance requirement than other materials. You have to clean a cedar fence every year and check for rot. If appearances are a priority, the cedar fencing needs to be pressure washed regularly in order to keep that beautiful color.

Alternatives to Cedar Fencing

Even though there are plenty of advantages to cedar fencing, there are still downsides. If you find that cedar fencing isn’t suitable for your fencing project, we do have some alternatives to consider. One of the best alternatives would be to go with iron fencing. Like cedar fencing, wrought iron fencing adds style and function to your home.

Iron fencing is strong and holds up well against the elements. There’s also a wide range of styles to explore with these types of fencing products, from the simple to the very elegant. There’s a design for everyone, and installation is a lot easier than most expect.

Ornamental iron fencing is exceptionally durable and can last as long as fifty years in rural areas and roughly 30 years in more suburban areas.

For most homeowners, security is one of the most important aspects of any fence. With an iron fence, you can have the peace of mind you deserve. Intruders quickly realize that trying to break into this iron fencing is way more complicated than meets the eye. Criminals like low-hanging fruit, and your fencing is far from low-hanging fruit with this durable material.

Should You DIY That Wooden Fence?

One of the questions we get most regarding wooden fences is simple: is it a project that you can do yourself? The answer is simple: in theory, you can do just about anything yourself. However, we strongly suggest having your fencing installed by a professional.

Whenever you do something over and over again, you develop a skill for seeing exactly how it needs to be done. Where you might have put in one or two fences, a fence contractor in Austin has put in hundreds of fences over the years, if not thousands of them.

When you’re planning a fence upgrade, do you want to be weighed down by getting the ground level and ensuring all of the tiny details are in place? Do you want to stress over proper installation to make sure your fence is stable and secure? Your day-to-day schedule is already busy enough; just let the professionals step in.

Let Us Help You Get Started!

Cedar fencing is a beautiful, long-lasting option for your home, but iron fencing has its advantages too. At Northwest Fence and Iron, we’re here to help with your fencing project—no matter the materials. If you’re ready to get started installing fencing in Austin, or if you have additional questions, contact us for a quote today.