Contents Overview
First, as this is all about best wood for fencing, we need to know the best wood for fencing that are being used everywhere. Please note, Three quarter inch boards are commonly used for woodworking.
Know the Basics of Wood
These are 3/4 boards that are called 1’’ boards. This means it is the thickness of this wood. Keeping aside all confusion, this size we c
an keep in mind to initiate woodworking with fence panel.
Any wooden fence panel you choose, it may cost you in between $17-$8 per square feet. A sturdy, properly maintained, the standard of installation and how well it is being mentioned।
1. Hardwood
Mahagonny, walnut, and cherry can be considered as hard types; this type of wood is generally being used for sophisticated furniture or classic woodworking. Commonly widespread wood that can be found in America is Oak. Your home depot may have some issues, but it looks fine for people to use.
This type of wood is sturdy and can give your saw machine a hard time to cut it. Sometimes at some localities, this type of wood may not be available at all. Besides, this hardwood goes heavy on the purchaser because of its a highly expensive feature.
2. Softwood
Softwood means relatively comes from pine trees. You can easily scratch and can leave your mark on it which you can consider as one of the drawbacks. However, this type of wood is the most common type of wood. When you enter a lumber shop or yard, the first scent you come across is pine wood.
This type of wood highly suggested for buying if you are thinking of having a budget fence for your yard. However, the durability may not be for 10 to 12 years, instead, this type of wood can serve you up to 5 year without irritating you, provided some kind cyclone doesn’t hit! This wood usually is affordable.
3. Plywood
Plywoods are considered to be the best type of wood. Plywood comes in 4/8 size which may become difficult to carry to somewhere. But there are some home center points who helps by cutting plywoods to carry to home.
Barltic Birch is one of the commonly used plywood, which is normally written on plywood. It comes in maple, oak and cherry which can be pretty expensive some times.
Experts suggest it won’t be a bad choice to buy lesser grade plywoods as still helps to serve your purpose. Sometimes, this plywood can be overly expensive.
The biggest advantage of this wooden fencing panel is: user doesn’t have to worry about expansion and contraction at all.
What is plywood: plywood is manufactured with thin veneers of real wood stacked in together and then glued. This smooth and proportionate sandwich gives this type of wood strength and durability.
Plywood looks like wood but not naturally produced, in one word, it is being manufactured. The common type of plywood that is being used is either ¾ inch or at least near to that. This type of plywood is more like 11/16’’. The more layer any plywood posses, the higher the price and quality will be.
Setbacks:
The confusing part of plywood is, it has so many types and variations. Seller usually sent sell in cut sheets or hobby boards. Some rename it handy panels or hobby boards.
Sometimes cutting against the edge of plywood can be pretty challenging as it may splint or split or chip out. We would highly recommend not to use this type of wood fencing.
The best tip is to, put some masking tape on the line and in between the line, run you saw to get smooth edge cutting of your plywood.
4. Engineered Wood
This wood is basically being used for interior doors, floors and basically manufactured of MDF and Stamped hardboard. Of the two, It is believed by experts, MDF plays vital part to be chosen by many as they are durable and doesn’t bend easily because of it’s sturdiness.
One more thing to mention about these types of wood, Engineered woods are easy to paint as they don’t pose any difficulty because of scratch or grains on them.
MDF (medium density fiber wood)
It creates unwanted and thick sand while woodworking. It is recommended to avoid using this type of wood. For knockdown furniture’s, such as: assembling furniture.
This type of wood cuts amazing and the edge profile is fantastic and it wont give you any unnecessary hassle to maintain a smooth edge.
Cedarwood for Fencing
Cedar and redwood are somewhat similar.
This wood is less expensive and pressure-treated lumber than redwood.
However, it is still highly resistant to moisture, termite and warp. A good look of this wood may sometimes cost you but it worth it.
Besides, this wood requires maintenance with stain or paint on it.
Protective gloves, mask,s and clothing have to be worn while working with wood, as this pressure-treated preservative, the chemicals inserted in it artificially may cause harm.
On the other hand, this wood contains natural oil that detracts insects and termites.
This wood would be an excellent choice than choosing Redwood for fencing because of its affordability, durability, availability and sturdiness.
Redwood for Fencing
Redwood is known as Sequoioideae. This wood considered to be 24% stronger than cedarwood. Because of it strong and sturdy feature, this wood is less likely to be available at every part of town.
However, it can be expensive with an assurance of durable fencing solution.
- Common names include coast redwood, coastal redwood and California redwood.
- This wood is natural, durable and amazing to use.
- This wood has many qualities like: the majority of woods prefer this wood only because of strong resistant power to rot and termite.
- The value of overall house increases just by having this wood installed at the house.
- This wood can stay strong up to 10-30 years.
- This wood will never splinter. Instead, it is sturdy and durable which are it’s prime promises to your house.
Cypress-Best Wood for Fencing
This wood contains a preservative called cypressene and it naturally creates it.
Because of this magical preservative termites and corrosion think twice to apply their tactics to decay the wood.
Usage of year after year may leave gray marks or maybe it could get covered by dust and scratches.
Whatever the types you use, it gets old and starts deteriorating and it becomes necessary to replace.
What to Consider Before Buying Wood For Fencing
Before thinking of buying any wood for fencing, few things need to be considered
- The frequency of raining.
- Temperature pattern. How frequent it changes.
- The pressure of the wind.
- Corrosive salt air.
- Moisture from the ground.
Wooden fence, in general, requires maintenance on time to time basis. It has it’s difference with metal fence posts.
The weather pattern needs to be studied well
That study guides you with what best wood you need. That study plays 30% of your part to prevent decay on your wooden fence. This study helps you to get a termite resistant and suitable wood less likely to bend, split and rot. Regardless of the weather, there should be an alternative to take care of fence.
This varies area to area. Questions need to be asked about the feasibility of having wood or their right type to suit. Depending on few questions, the decision for buying right of type can be made:
Wood lumber: the wood that is being made from tree and considered as a solid piece of wood
Pine, FIR or spruce Wood for Fencing
This wood falls under the category of pressure-treated woods.
One preservative can be used to resist rot and termites for good: such as CCA (chormated copper aresenate). To prevent from termite, this chemical works amazingly.
- Most affordable type of wood to have. Relative more famous for house contraction and framing.
- Pine is easy to work with. It cuts smoothly and gentle with blades.
- It works amazing with project works, mainly wood pieces of ¾ inches.
- Pinewood offers people the flexibility to use it comfortably as they are easy to shape and connect.
- Because of its nature and availability, people find it easy and affordable to use.
Drawback is : it can easily be scratched and dent easily, which makes is less durable. It is highly recommended not to use it for furniture that is being frequently used.
This wood is very prone to attract termite and rot. What happens, this wood can prone to damage with heavy push or hit. Heavy rainfall can expedite the rot tendency which is a setback of having that kind of wood.
This type of wood simply cost you $8-$10 per square feet. Furthermore, it has some good feature to talk about, this wood less likely to shrink, swell or bend. It requires maintenance at least once in a quarter. To get rid of termite, using paint or stain on wood can ensure durability for long time.
Problems with Wood
Shipworm
It is one of the many wood-related problems of the west coast of United States. They start up their feeding process from very small and It can become 5 feet long and chew up entire lumber to its last stage. It stays within the wet area and the coastal part of country.
Insects
Ants- bugs and termites can make holes and eventually play major role to degrade the wood. Termites can damage any wood within few weeks but can be controlled. According to AC Pest, these insects, for instance termites, approximately cause damage of 5 billion dollars each year.
Source: More on Termites from AC-Pest Management
Fungi-
it is the main agent and play vital role to degrade the quality of wood. And this slowly degrades the real face of wood to something it was not before. Without signal, any wooden structure collapses only because of this harmful agent.
Scorching Sun:
Presence of scorching sun can bend wood eventually. When the tree is alive, it requires water, but once it is converted in lumber, it requires remaining dry to 12%, not more than that. If it dries more, it loses it shape and ends up with bending.
Know types of wood Preservatives
We need to know how to protect our beloved wooden fence panels. No house is a house without having a fence outside your lawn. To preserve wood, two types of wood preservative chemicals can be used
- Oil based: dissolved in an organic solvent. Namely: Creosote, phentachlorophenol, FDC Wood Stain & Natural Sealer
- etc are being used for mass structures, such as bridges, utility poles and other little wooden structures such as decks, wooden table and fewer fence posts.
- Water-based- We may have heard the name of CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) preservative, which was mainly invented for decking and other applications in 1930s. CCA is a combination of chromic oxide 47.5%, copper oxide 18.5% and Arsenic Penta Oxide 34%. This CCA is a commercial product to use or buy from the market.
This type of preservative was mainly designed for residential purposes.
However, this preservative is being used for marine pilling poles and timbers. This CCA doesn’t penetrate the wood, instead it remains on the surface. The ACZA is another type of chemical that is being utilized for industrial purposes which is not our purpose to talk about.