How long do wood fences typically last? (drain, paint, installed)

[Jamerschris]

I just had one put in, cedar wood. 6 feet tall... Ive had it up for 9 months now and now the wood is turning slowley gray,I didnt stain it because it was too much and I work alot so I cant stain it. anyone know how long these baby's last?

[akck]

They'll last for years and years. The gray is natural aging for cedar, common when the wood isn't stained. Many like the looks of it.

[nightcrawler]

It is usually the posts that tend to rot at the bottom. But if they are maintaned, your fence will last a long time.

[Pruzhany]

As long as the posts were treated wood, then there should be no issues. Just make sure there is no standing water anywhere near the fence.

[thecoalman]

Properly installed and maintained? Many decades...

[lifelongMOgal]

Originally Posted by nightcrawler

It is usually the posts that tend to rot at the bottom. But if they are maintaned, your fence will last a long time.

I've had a problem with my cedar posts but that was because the installer set them in concrete instead of sand like I requested (water won't drain and they rot). The fencing pickets themselves, except for a few warping because the wood was green, have lasted 14+ yrs. thus far.

You can power wash the cedar to regain the reddish look and there is a preservant you can spray on every few years to help keep the fence from turning gray if you like the look of the new wood better.

[SteveArmy]

as long as the cedar boards are not touching the ground then it will last a long time - but you have to punch in a few nails maybe every 3 years. the horizontal beams if using just one 2x4 tend to bow/bend so the fence might look crooked after a few years.
I just repaired mine, 3.5years old and 20 months after ike. I had to replace the bowed beam(I actually added a straighter beam) and renail the boards. I also power washed the boards and they look brand new (but pale) so I stained it dark brown so I hope I dont see them gray again

[Debi18]

My split rail cedar fence is rotting, crumbling and falling apart after 15 years. It was never stained or treated with anything. I cant wait to tear it down and replace it with something else.

[Bergenite]

I just replaced most of the my cedar fence after 15 years. It was painted and somewhat maintained.

[JimRom]

Originally Posted by lifelongMOgal

I've had a problem with my cedar posts but that was because the installer set them in concrete instead of sand like I requested (water won't drain and they rot).

Actually, it isn't the concrete itself that causes this, it's improperly used concrete. When cementing in posts, you have to make sure the cement slopes away from the post to shed water. Otherwise, it will rot quickly.