Residential Wood Fences in Cedar Rapids, IA FAQ
Is cedar still a great wood fencing option?
Cedar wood fencing makes up the majority of today’s new growth, due to tighter forestry restrictions in North America reducing old growth cedar trees throughout the continent. The new growth used here at American Fence Company of Cedar Rapids is sourced from a fast-growing species known for minimal heartwood.
What are my fencing options over cedar wood fencing in Cedar Rapids?
Thanks to forestry restrictions on old growth cedar, the North American wood fence industry has shifted focus to wood sourced from more abundant species of tree, including white fir, incense cedar, and Douglas fir. Although lacking the rich scent characteristic of cedar, these wood options tend to outperform cedar in the Cedar Rapids fence market.
What advantages do treated wood fencing have over western red, incense cedar, and Douglas fir wood fencing?
Pine wood fencing is known for its strength and longevity, especially when treated with ACQ or ACQ2 pressure. Treated fence materials in Cedar Rapids, Iowa are stained to achieve coloring similar to cedar and Douglas fir fence rails and pickets. Now, the downside is that red and white pine posts tend to form cracks following drying post-treatment. Rest assured, though, that these cracks don’t compromise the strength of your fence posts. Don’t start worrying until the cracks widen to the point that you can see clear through.
Red and white pine fence posts twist as they age, though this also doesn’t compromise the quality or longevity of wood fence posts in Cedar Rapids, IA.
What are your recommendations for staining Douglas fir wood fencing and cedar wood fencing?
In the interest of maintaining reddish and blonde colors in your Douglas fir wood fence or cedar wood fencing, consider staining within six weeks of installation, when the wood is completely dry. (We recommend waiting a whole week since the last rain in your area.) Staining tends to be messy. You don’t want overspray ending up on your house or your neighbor’s property. Avoid staining on windy days. Tape off adjoining structures. Lay a drop cloth to avoid the staining spray from ending up on your lawn. The best way to avoid all of this is to hire a fence staining professional in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Because of the coarse surface, brush staining on wood fences tends to be tricky. Rolling-on staining tends to be a little easier but usually results in more runs and drips. Spraying your wood fence and quickly following up with a brush to even the staining across the wood fence surface usually produces the best results. Perform wood fence staining in large, continuous strokes to produce an even coating. Apply a second coat while the first is still wet. Failing to do so will result in the second coat peeling. Re-stain your wood fencing in Cedar Rapids every 2-3 years.
In the interest of avoiding discoloration, make sure your fence is not constantly exposed to sprinklers.
What is the difference between heartwood and sapwood?
Sapwood is distinguished by outer, lighter colored rings. It is the part of the tree through which water and sap flows and consequently doesn’t make for good fencing material. Heartwood is marked by darker colors. It is stronger, firmer, and is the preferred source for wood fencing stock.
What is the better source for fence materials in Cedar Rapids, Iowa? Cedar fence posts or treated pine fence posts?
Both cedar fence posts and treated fence pine fence posts are fine, as long as you set the concrete embedding the fence posts to shed water. Cedar wood fence posts tend to warp but are less prone to cracking and twisting. Unstained cedar fence posts eventually gray out. American Fence Company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa uses premium cedar or ACQ1 treated stained fence posts.
Are untreated wood fence materials safe for family and pets?
Never use CCA (Cooper Chromate Arsenic) fence materials for your residential wood fence in Cedar Rapids, IA. Instead, we recommend industry-approved ACQ treated fence posts. If unsure how certain fence materials are coated, look for a tag at either end of the post. Any questions? Just call us, the premier wood fence contractor in Cedar Rapids, IA.
What is the strength of wood fence gates in Cedar Rapids, IA?
We recommend 4” x 6” posts for 6′ wood fence gates, with three hinges per gate. All gate hardware should be powder coated for increased strength and longevity.
How to repair wood fence gates in Cedar Rapids, IA?
Wood fence gates are designed to be set between two gate posts. Now, like all parts of a fence, these posts are constantly exposed to weather, temperature swings, sunlight exposure, frost, unsettled soil, etc., all of which can cause displacement, shifts out of place, and movement of the gate’s latch hasp, meaning the gate won’t be able to close properly.
You don’t have to be as concerned if your gate has a standard drop fork latch. This is the kind that looks like a two-prong pitchfork and that moves up and down). If your latch has a horizontal rod designed to fall into the receiver when the gate is closed, adjustments of the gate might be needed. The same is true for gate latches that look like standard door locks. Talk to your fence contractor in Cedar Rapids about four-way adjustment hinges if you have either of those on your wood fence gate.
What nails do I need for my wood fence?
The most highly recommended option is countersunk galvanized or aluminized nails.
