Do cedar posts need to be sealed?
Before sealing cedar posts, be sure to complete a water test. Proper water testing will ensure the wood is ready to accept protecting sealants. Simply sprinkle water on the surface of the wood. If it soaks in, the post should be sealed. If the water beads up or stands on the surface, the posts do not need to be sealed.
Why choose pressure treated over cedar posts?
I choose Pressure treated over Cedar because although a cedar post has its own natural resistance to insects, it does not resist rot. Rot is just something that happens to wood when in direct contact with soil. When moisture is added to the soil there really is not much way of stopping rot. Unless of course you have a pressure treated post.
How long do treated cedar posts last?
It will be about 1K more if use all cedar material Vs. cedar pickets and treated posts and stringers. Ceder is naturally rot resistant, but I have seen many ceder decks rot out in less than 5 years. Treated will last for 20+. My cedar posts in NJ lasted about 5 years, now that you mention it TI.
How do you protect cedar posts from weathering?
Sand rough surfaces. If you have any rough spots on the posts, simply sand the surface until smooth. Using a high grit paper, work in the direction of the wood grain to avoid unsightly marks. Clean the wood. Before applying wood protector, the cedar should be cleaned.
How long will untreated cedar posts last?
People have been using Red Cedar as untreated fenceposts for a long time, and Mother Earth News notes that they will last for 15 to 20 years. Since our supports are significantly thicker than typical fenceposts and will be protected on the top from water, I wouldn't be surprised if they lasted for several decades.
Should cedar fence posts be treated?
While cedar's tight grain, resistance to rot, and lack of knots make for optimal fence material – it is less durable against soil than pressure treated pine (in posts). For this reason, it may be a good idea to use pressure treated pine for the posts and cedar for the rest of the fence.
What do you seal cedar posts with?
Cedar accepts most finishes well, including penetrating oils, such as tung oil and linseed oil. Penetrating oils are especially effective for sealing the grain while leaving the wood looking raw and natural.
Should fence posts be cedar or pressure treated?
Cedar is stronger and more durable than pressure-treated lumber. Pressure-treated lumber can warp and weather within a few years if left untreated, while cedar is more capable of naturally keeping its shape. However, cedar is more susceptible to cosmetic damages, such as dents and scratches.
What are the disadvantages of cedar wood?
Disadvantages of Cedar Wood Decking:Cost- Just like composite, cedar can be much more expensive than other wood.Fades to a weathered grey over the years, which can be a drawback to some people.
Does cedar post warp?
Cedar does not warp or shrink and is a naturally stable material perfect for picket and privacy fences. Cedar wood fences stand the test of time, and look great decades after installation.
Should you stain or seal cedar?
Rot, premature aging, and warping can occur from the weather and elements when the boards aren't sealed. Finishing off your newly-installed cedar deck with a sealant or wood stain will help to prolong the life, beauty, and appeal of the deck for years to come.
Is Thompson's water Seal good for cedar?
Best wood preservative for cedar – THOMPSONS WATERSEAL TH. 042851-16. This product is excellent at protecting your cedar surfaces from water damage. It also enhances the beauty of the wood while preventing fading.
Will cedar rot if buried?
Don't put cedar where it's in direct contact with the ground or set it in concrete. It may last for a while, but eventually it will rot and deteriorate.
Should I stain cedar posts?
Although cedar is naturally resistant to rot and decay, staining your siding promptly will help in the preventing of deterioration.
Does cedar fence need to be sealed?
Cleaning and general maintenance is necessary to preserve cedar wood fences. If cared for properly, a cedar fence will remain attractive and structurally sound for many years to come. Apply a waterproofing sealer to the cedar fence to protect the wood from splintering, cracking and warping due to the weather elements.
How do I treat cedar wood for outdoor use?
The best clear Cedar finish stain for outdoors is Linseed oil, hands down. Linseed oil is the primary ingredient in any oil finishes, which dries clear. You can find other clear water-based stains, but will not last nearly as long as a Linseed oil based stain will.
How long does it take for a cedar fence to rot?
It's maybe 1/2" stone and less, mixed with some lime. Once the lime sets up, it's gets pretty solid, but it still drains water. It takes about 25 years for a cedar 6x6 to rot out. The rest of that cedar fence will gone by then. Al, redwood used to be like that.
Do concrete posts need to be crowned?
Now we pull posts out daily and the bottom of the posts still often have the tags on them from the lumber yards. Yes one thing is accurate. The concrete needs to be crowned (sloped) away from the post so water and soil do not touch the posts. But there is also a problem there.
Can post rot occur underground?
The same answers just reworded from writers that do not do good research. Post Rot can not occur underground. Protecting the post at the base is what needs to be done. Two of the four elements which rot needs to live- proliferate and exist can not physically happen underground.
Can you put cedar posts in concrete?
Putting cedar posts in concrete is not adviseable for a variety of reasons ( from what I understand anyhow). If you can get creosote, a lot of people do recommend that. I talked to a guy who has a long history of building fences, and short of creosote, he recommended "waxing" the cut end that is the ground.
How long does pressure treated lumber take to dry?
You can give pressure-treated wood an extra measure of protection by finishing it with a sealer or stain but give newly purchased pressure-treated lumber a few months to dry out before you do. New treated lumber invariably is still wet from the treatment process and won’t accept a finish until it dries completely.
What is the purpose of liquid preservatives in wood?
Liquid preservatives are introduced to the chamber and the resulting pressure forces the chemicals into the wood. Manufacturers have tried to include colored dyes with the preservatives to give pressure-treated lumber an organic appearance, but the results are mixed.
Is cedar fence weather resistant?
Keep these three DIY tips in mind when you're installing a cedar fence. Due to its chemical properties, cedar is naturally weather-resistant and repels most bugs. But over the years it can crack slightly and develop a fuzzy surface texture unless it’s periodically refinished.
Is copper a preservative?
Today’s treated-wood preservatives still include some form of copper, which isn’t toxic and inhibits the growth of mold and mildew and repels insects. Some manufacturers avoid the telltale incisions used to help preservative chemicals penetrate the wood.
Is cedar good for decking?
This is where cedar comes into the picture. Tight-grained, good-looking and weather-resistant, cedar is the best choice anywhere aesthetics are important. Cedar makes beautiful decking, railings, arbors and trellises. It can be sanded to a smooth finish that makes it ideal for handrails, bench seats and children’s play structures.
Can cedar be darkened?
If you plan to keep your cedar’s natural color, note that cedar can darken dramatically when exposed to sunlight. You’ll want to be vigilant about applying clear sealers with UV (ultraviolet light) blockers to keep the rich color of the natural wood.
Is treated lumber a bad preservative?
For years, the treated-lumber industry got a deservedly bad rap for preservatives that included toxic chromated copper arsenic (CCA). In 2003 the industry voluntarily suspended the use of CCA for residential use, although it continues to be used for commercial applications.
How to get rid of rough spots on wood posts?
Sand rough surfaces. If you have any rough spots on the posts, simply sand the surface until smooth. Using a high grit paper, work in the direction of the wood grain to avoid unsightly marks.
How to clean wood posts with bleach?
If you would like to make your own home cleaner, however, simply mix one part bleach and some powdered detergent with two to four parts water. Scrub the posts with the cleaning solution and rinse well. Let the wood dry for one or two days before applying protectant.
What is the best wood for a deck?
Cedar is widely considered to be one of the most desirable woods for outdoor deck or fence construction. Both its beauty and natural resistance to rot and decay make cedar an optimal choice for outdoor projects.
Is cedar wood good for fungus?
Although cedar woods contain preservatives that are harmful to decay-causing fungi, they must be maintained. Special attention must be paid to outdoor posts, the weight-bearing portions of most decks and fences, to ensure they are properly weatherproofed. Advertisement.
Do cedar posts need to be sealed?
Simply sprinkle water on the surface of the wood. If it soaks in, the post should be sealed. If the water beads up or stands on the surface, the posts do not need to be sealed.
Why do I choose pressure treated over cedar?
I choose Pressure treated over Cedar because although a cedar post has its own natural resistance to insects, it does not resist rot. Rot is just something that happens to wood when in direct contact with soil. When moisture is added to the soil there really is not much way of stopping rot.
Why replace a fence?
Most people remove the fence, replace the fence because the top , above ground portion of the fence is just looking all completely worn down. In removing these Cedar posts from the ground the posts prove to be completely intact, from soil to surface.
Is pressure treated fence cheaper than cedar?
Pressure treated fences are usually thinner ... The pickets , typically thin in design. Sold in larger home improvement stores it is a usually considered the cheaper, more affordable option over a spruce or cedar line of materials. Pressure treated posts over Cedar posts....
Can you stain cedar with PT?
A lot depends on the stain you use. Generally the PT won't absorb as much stain as the cedar. The thinner or more transparent the stain is, the bigger the difference will be. Sometimes a 2nd coat of stain on the PT is enough to make it look fine.
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What is the best cedar tree for a fence?
There are a number of kinds of cedar. Eastern red cedar, found from east of Colorado and into much of New England is actually a juniper, a member of the cypress family. True cedars are members of the pine family. Junipers are tough, resilient trees that make excellent fence posts, either whole or split. You do not need to treat or debark the posts.
Do you need to treat juniper fence posts?
Junipers are tough, resilient trees that make excellent fence posts, either whole or split. You do not need to treat or debark the posts. As to how long they will last, that depends on how moist the soil conditions are and the amount of freezing and thawing the posts will endure over their lifetime.
What happens if you leave cedar untreated?
If you leave cedar wood untreated, it will not succumb to the devastating effects of mold, rot and insect damage. However, it will lose its typically golden-brown color. As Albany Fence Designs mentions, the natural forces of nature, such as wind and rain, will slowly cause untreated cedar wood structures, such as fences and furniture, to fade.
Why does cedar wood check?
According to Albany Fence Designs, while cedar wood will not shrink or warp in the presence of moisture, it will check. Checks are cracks or openings that form along the surfaces of wood, parallel to the wood's natural grain direction. While they do not cause structural harm to cedar, checks can cause it to suffer aesthetically. As APA Wood notes, checking is the result of seasonal fluctuations in wood's moisture content. While outer layers of wood fiber are able to expel moisture quickly when temperatures warm up, inner layers shed moisture at a much lower rate. As a result, the outer layers shrink inwards, but crack when they bump into the denser, moisture-heavy inner layers.
Why is wood checking?
As APA Wood notes, checking is the result of seasonal fluctuations in wood's moisture content. While outer layers of wood fiber are able to expel moisture quickly when temperatures warm up, inner layers shed moisture at a much lower rate.
Is cedar a structural component?
Weakness. According to the University of Minnesota, while cedar is a common material in construction, workers do not generally use it as a structural component, such as for supporting heavy loads. This is because it is not as strong as other lumber options, like cypress, redwood and pressure treated lumbers.
Is cedar wood cheaper than redwood?
Cost. While cedar wood is less expensive than some similar lumbers, such as redwood, it is still incredibly costly. As the University of Minnesota mentions, it costs on average about twice as much as pressure treated lumbers, such as yellow pine and fir. Advertisement. references & resources.
Is cedar wood warping?
While cedar is not prone to warping, it is prone to checking. Cedar wood has a number of beneficial qualities that make it ideal for use in shingles, fencing, outdoor furniture and several other applications. The wood has an aesthetically pleasing, straight-grain pattern; a pleasing fragrance and it naturally resists the damaging effects ...
