When choosing pickets for your Senatobia MS fence there are several options. Here is some information to help you decide which type of wood to use depending on your budget and needs. The most common fence picket is the dog-eared cut pressure treated pine board. Pressure treated pine is one of the most economical choices and can last a very long time depending on the environment it is used in. Pressure treated pine does warp, split, check and crack more than cedar especially if the fence is continuously exposed to direct sunlight on a daily basis and has not been properly stained or sealed. You can expect to perform more maintenance throughout the life of the fence such as re-fastening warped boards, re-placing severely warped or cracked boards as well. Pressure treated pine can be a good choice and will give you the most "bang for your buck" if you do not mind a little maintenance and upkeep.
Cedar fence pickets are generally known to be the best choice in our region due to availability. There are several species of cedar available for fencing in the Hernando MS fence area. Western red cedar is known to be the best choice which can be the most expensive as well. Then incense cedar is a well-known species and is less expensive than western red, it is more brittle than western red, expect slightly more distortion, splitting and cracking than western red cedar. Incense cedar stains and seals very well and is an excellent choice for cedar fence at a more affordable price. Chinese and Japanese cedar has flooded the big box stores over the last 5 years, the quality varies depending on supply source. These boards have similar characteristics as Balsa wood, light weight and soft. These imported boards can be a good choice over pressure treated and is recommended to be stained and sealed for longevity.
Some things to bear in mind when choosing a fence company. A good reputable contractor should know the differences between cedar, if you are quoted a cedar fence and the contractor is not revealing the type of cedar that could be a red flag. The fence contractor could be inexperienced and not actually know the difference, or the fence contractor may be charging a premium price for a less quality product. "How would you know". At Senatobia Fence we will always discuss the options during your free consultation. Another trick commonly seen is for a fence contractor to offer a pre-stained cedar board, often times these pre-stained boards are cheap imported pickets of poor quality, the contractor then shoves them through a bath of heavy stain to hide imperfections and sale them at a premium price right off the truck before the wood has been properly dried. At Senatobia MS Fence Company we recommend staining and sealing your fence after the wood has been installed and properly seasoned and dried, this allows moisture to escape from the wood and enhances maximum adhesion of the stain or sealer when applied.