Is cedar still #1 in wood fence choices in Grand Island, NE?
Restrictions on North American forestry has limited the harvesting of old growth cedar trees. Consequently, most of today’s cedar wood fencing is made from new growth cedar trees, specifically a cedar species known for swift growth and minimal heartwood. Most cedar fencing in Grand Island is made from the sapwood of trees. The wood fence industry resorts to abundant tree species such as white fir and incense cedar, due to the limitations and restrictions on old growth. These trees provide more options for fencing boards, in addition to being greater in abundance.
Is treated wood fencing is better than Douglas Fir, incense cedar, and western red?
Treated fence materials do not compare to the natural beauty of cedar and Douglas Fir. However, treated and stained white and red pine is a good selection for fence posts. Pine is very dense and strong and, once it has been enhanced with ACQ or ACQ2 pressure treatment, is practically impenetrable. Please note that as they dry following treatment, white and red wood fence posts tend to form cracks; this process, completely natural, does not diminish the strength or longevity of your wood fence in Grand Island. Don’t be concerned unless the cracks running along the grain of the wood fence post become deep enough where you can see through.
Red and white pine posts have been known to twist with the uneven drying. This, too, does not diminish the quality or longevity of your fence post.
Should I stain my Douglas fir fence or cedar fence?
To help the reddish or blonde color of your fence, you should consider staining within six weeks of your Grand Island fence installation. The fence needs to be completely dry when staining, so wait until you have had at least a week of continued dry weather, with no rain. This is essential because dry weather means the wood will be more likely to absorb the stain as well as retain it. The staining process tends to be a messy, and overspray can end up on your house or your neighbor’s property if proper care isn’t taken. Only apply fence staining in Grand Island 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 Grand Island.
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.
What is the difference between sapwood and heartwood?
In the past, cedar fencing came from old growth trees that had the width of a Volkswagen and a higher content of heartwood. Sapwood functions very much like your own veins and arteries: it’s the part of the tree through which sap and water flows. Heartwood is the darker core of the tree, consisting of used sapwood. Essentially functioning as the spine of the tree, heartwood contain very little moisture and is less prone to shrinking as it dried out. It also develops fungus less easily than sapwood, again because of the lack of moisture.