Residential Wood Fence Installers in Grand Island, Nebraska FAQ
Is a cedar wood fence in Grand Island, NE still my best option?
Cedar wood fencing constitutes the majority of today’s new growth, due to the fact that tighter forestry restrictions in North America have greatly reduced the use of old growth cedar trees throughout the continent. Our new growth’s sourced from fast-growing cedar tree species that have minimal heartwood. Today, cedar wood fences in Nebraska primarily come from sapwood.
What are my fencing options over cedar wood fencing in Grand Island?
Because of the North American forestry restrictions on old growth cedar, the wood fence industry has shifted focus to more abundant tree species. These species, which include white fir, incense cedar, and Douglas fir, are populous in older growth trees. This, in turn, allows for greater and more expansive options for fencing boards. While they don’t have the rich cedar smell (though that itself becomes a tad hard to handle after a while), these wood options tend to outperform cedar in the fencing industry in Nebraska.
What are the advantages of treated wood fencing over western red, incense cedar, or Douglas fir wood fencing?
Treated wood doesn’t match the natural beauty of Douglas fir and cedar wood fencing. However, pine wood fencing has tremendous strength and durability. It’s particularly strong when treated with ACQ or ACQ2 pressure. Treated fence materials in Grand Island, Nebraska are stained to achieve a color similar to cedar and Douglas fir fence rails and pickets. The downside is that red and white pine posts form cracks after drying post-treatment. However, this does not compromise the strength of your wood fence posts and you need not worry unless the cracks widen to the point that you can see what’s on the other side.
Please also note: red and white pine fence posts twist as they age. This, too, doesn’t compromise the quality or longevity of your wood fence posts.
Should I stain Douglas fir wood fencing and cedar wood fencing?
You might consider staining to maintain reddish and blonde colors in your Douglas fir wood fence or cedar wood fencing. Consider doing so within six weeks of installation. Do not begin the staining process until the wood is completely dry; we recommend waiting a whole week since the last rain in your area. Hire a fence staining contractor in Grand Island, NE. Staining tends to be messy. You don’t want overspray ending up on your house or your neighbor’s property. Avoid staining on windy days. Tape off adjoining structures. Lay a drop cloth to avoid the staining spray from ending up on your lawn.
Brushing staining on wood fencing tends to be tricky because of the coarse surface. A tad easier is rolling-on staining, but this method usually results in more runs and drips. For the best results, spray your wood fence and quickly follow up with a brush to even the staining across the wood fence surface.
Staining wood fences should be performed in an even coating through large, continuous strokes. The second coat must be applied while the first is still wet — otherwise, the second coat could start peeling. Plan to re-stain your wood fencing in Grand Island every 2-3 years. To help avoid discoloration, make sure your fence is not constantly exposed to sprinklers.
What is the difference between heartwood and sapwood?
Sapwood consists of the part of the tree through which water and sap flow. It is distinguished by outer, lighter colored rings and doesn’t make for good fencing stock because of the heavy moisture content.
Heartwood essentially functions as the tree’s spine. It is marked by darker colors and is the preferred source for wood fence materials in Grand Island, NE. For this reason, many mills specializing in decorative cedar fence posts depend on heartwood as their primary source of lumber.
Cedar fence posts or treated pine fence posts? What is the better source for fence materials in Grand Island, Nebraska?
Provided the concrete footing is set to shed water, cedar fence posts and treated fence pine fence posts are fine. Treated fine posts sometimes form cracks as well as a slight twist to their structure, though they have been known to outlast cedar. Cedar wood fence posts tend to warp but are less prone to cracking and twisting. Unstained cedar fence posts eventually gray out. American Fence Company of Grand Island, Nebraska uses premium cedar or ACQ1 treated stained fence posts.
Are untreated wood fence materials safe for family and pets?
Do not use CCA (Cooper Chromate Arsenic) fence materials for your residential wood fence in Grand Island, NE. Only use industry approved ACQ treated posts. If unsure how certain fence materials are coated, look for a tag at either end of the post or inquire with your wood fence contractor in Grand Island, NE.
How reliable are wood fence gates in Grand Island, NE?
In the case of 6′ wood fence gates, we recommend heavy duty 4” x 6” posts. Three hinges per gate. In the interest of avoiding rust and corrosion, ensure all gate hardware is powder coated.
How do I fix my wood fence gate in Grand Island?
Wood fence gates are set between two gate posts, which are subject to the elements: temperature swings, sunlight exposure, frost, unsettled soil, etc. All of this can cause gate post displacement, causing shifts out of place. A slight shift has the potential to move the gate’s latch hasp, meaning the gate won’t close properly.
You shouldn’t have to worry if you have a standard drop fork latch (what looks like a two prong pitchfork, moves up and down). If your latch has a horizontal rod that falls into the receiver when the gate is closed, adjustments might be needed. The same is true for gate latches that look like standard door locks. If you have either of these on your wood fence gate, talk to your fence contractor in Grand Island about four-way adjustment hinges.
What nails do I need for my wood fence?
The best and most highly recommended option is galvanized or aluminized nails that are counter sunk (to avoid popping out).
