Fencing Replacement

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

By planks, do you mean pickets or slats (the vertical face of the fence)? Wider pickets are prone to cupping and warping more then narrower, stay with the 1x4's.

You made me go check. The vertical pickets facing the street and shared with one neighbor are, indeed, 1 x 6" while the other shared fence is made up of 1 x 4s. They've held up equally well, both sides of the entire fence having been sealed more than twice in the 8 years. I'm guessing the 1 x 6 planks in particular were likely kiln dried and cost a tad more than builder grade. It is a nice Drees home and I wouldn't be surprised if the original owner spec'd them that way. No problems with warping or cupping with 99% of the fencing. Proper fastener installation can certainly make a difference. I've seen guys installing fencing like they were shooting 'Tommy' guns and the fasteners nearly overlap, making it easier for the plank to warp or cup.

I've seen our neighbors' fences replaced after about 6 years and I'll spend the time and money every three years or so to seal/stain and try to maintain the fence. We have about 140 lineal feet of fencing, so I don't want to replace it any time soon!

Fortunately, the >100' of greenspace steel fencing is maintained by the HOA. THAT would be a real pain!

[G Grasshopper]

The pickets currently on my old fence are in no way 1" thick. They are under 1/2, I think, probably 3/8. I am told that is what Home Depot carries. The one estimate I have is for 5/8" thick pickets, which should be less prone to warping and rotting, I would think. Whether they are 4" or 6" wide costs the same, so I imagine that is a matter of taste or of matching other fences. But would the 6" wide ones be more likely to warp? This is cedar, not treated pine.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

The pickets currently on my old fence are in no way 1" thick. They are under 1/2, I think, probably 3/8. I am told that is what Home Depot carries. The one estimate I have is for 5/8" thick pickets, which should be less prone to warping and rotting, I would think. Whether they are 4" or 6" wide costs the same, so I imagine that is a matter of taste or of matching other fences. But would the 6" wide ones be more likely to warp? This is cedar, not treated pine.

Of course, we're dealing with nominal sizing here; so a 4" width is actually 3 1/2 inches and the 6" is 5 1/2. Good point on the 1" thickness, since they are not actually an inch. Thicker costs more, naturally and I would expect the 6" width to be a tad costlier(that is, two 6" boards should be a touch more than three 4" boards since a tree 'produces' fewer 6" cuts.