When it comes time to choose a new fence, there are a few factors that you’ll need to decide on. What is important to you, safety or privacy? What aesthetic do you prefer? How much can you afford to spend? What material is right for you?
The last question is what we’ll be focusing on in this post. Choosing the right material is easier said than done, especially when there are more to choose from than ever before. You have multiple types of metal, bamboo, cedar, oak, PVC, vinyl, fiberboard and others. But why is cedar a particularly bad choice?
What is Cedar?
Cedar is a soft wood that comes from conifer trees. It has a light color and is rather fragrant, but more importantly, it’s very cheap compared to other woods because the conifers trees grow at a rapid rate.
Most cedar is important from either Canada or Europe where conifer trees are incredibly common and can be harvested in large quantities using specialized machinery.
Why is Cedar a Terrible Choice?
We have decided to retire cedar entirely, refusing to use it for any of our new clients. You need to install posts which go into the soil and when it rains or snows the water heavily will dampen the soil, causing the post to sit in a puddle of water for weeks or months underground.
These posts will eventually start to rot because of the moisture, and this ruins the structural integrity of the fencing.
Another common problem is cement footings which can replace these wooden posts. When water enters in through the smallest of cracks and then expands and contracts through the winter, it will cause further cracks in the cement which will eventually bring down a fence.
Cedar is obviously a natural product, and that means that there is going to be plenty of natural variance between the products that we receive from suppliers. One week the cedar might be strong and healthy, while the next it could be weak and plagued with problems. There is no way to know this until it gets to us.
Not only that but consistently the price of cedar has been rising, causing it to be more expensive while still filled with issues. For this reason, we have decided to remove all wood fencing from our lineup in favor of manmade materials that use the latest technologies to ensure consistency and strength at a reasonable price.
Superior Alternatives
Instead of wood, we are now offering wrought iron, chain link, and vinyl fences. All three are superior alternatives which we believe can make up for the inadequacies of wood while being more beautiful, economical and requiring less maintenance.
Traditionally we would make wrought iron out of cast iron which is relatively brittle, but modern technologies and manufacturing methods now allow us to make it out of steel. Our galvanized ornamental steel is incredibly strong and durable, which is why we offer a 20-year warranty on the materials and 5-years on our labor.
For the best security for your backyard, there is no better alternative than wrought iron which is practically impossible to break without extremely strong power tools. We can build it high too, making it hard for anybody to climb over it while topping it with spears.
Chainlink is another popular alternative, probably the most popular fencing across the nation. This popularity comes from its price, which is one of the lowest that you will find. Chainlink fencing is a bargain, and it can be installed quicker than any other type, making it incredibly for unusually large backyards that need protection.
Cedar and other types of wood were always prevalent because they were solid and opaque, giving you extra privacy in your backyard. But vinyl can replace wood entirely. Not only does it offer the same level of privacy, but it also doesn’t require any maintenance throughout the year, and it will last for decades to come.
We are so confident that our vinyl is better than any cedar you will find, that we offer a lifetime non-prorated warranty on the materials and 5-years on our labor. Think of it as the last fence that you will ever need to purchase.