CEDAR STRUCTURE INSTALLATIONS: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I’ve just had a new fence built, do I have to finish it in some way?
We recommend that in order to keep your fence looking good for many years that you apply a good quality stain as soon as possible after the wood has dried sufficiently. For additional information on finishing read this guide. [2.8MB, PDF format]
I would really rather let my fence go gray, is that OK ?
When a cedar fence goes gray it is an indication that the surface of the wood is decaying. Left this way you will still get many years of enjoyment but eventually the sun wind and rain will cause your fence to fail. To extend it’s life without adding color, simply apply a good quality water repellant. Depending on the brand chosen, some can be applied right away while others require a few weeks of drying first. This small step will add many more years of enjoyment without changing the character of the graying wood
I see fence panels advertised for as low as $25. Why should I choose a custom or panel fence from Accurate Cedar?
Cedar is a very expensive wood. The only way to make a very low cost panel is to use very thin boards and cheaper methods of assembly. If you only have a short term need for a fence, perhaps this is suitable for you but if you expect more than a few years of useful service, you will be disappointed. Simply put larger profile, thicker boards and in particular rough material will just last longer and look better along the way. We use Jumbo posts for all our fences and in styles where kick boards are used, we recommend 2x6 to minimize sagging. Both these items are more costly but provide a better structure to build on.
My fence is already weathered but I would like to stain it now… what can I do?
Before you can stain weathered wood, you must clean and prepare the surface to accept and hold the stain or paint. There are many good exterior strippers on the market, just visit your nearest building supply yard to see what’s available in your area. Remember to use a wood brightener after you’ve stripped your cedar fence, this will reinvigorate the wood surface to avoid a washed out look.
What sort of care does my new fence require?
See above for finishing tips and recommendations but one thing you can do to keep your fence structurally sound for a long time is to simply keep grass and other vegetation away from the bottom of your fence. Allowing the bottom of your fence to dry out and not stay in constant contact with ground moisture will add many years of useful service to your fence. It’s amazing how many 10 year old fences we come across where 75-80% of the fence is just fine but the bottom 6” has rotted away.
How deep do you dig post holes?
Unless specifically stated all of our fencing jobs follow established guidelines to provide our customers with a quality installation. All post holes are dug approximately 2ft. deep and posts are installed with a minimum
1.5 bags or equivalent of concrete. We only use pressure treated posts and kick boards (where applicable) and all fasteners are hot dip galvanized or stainless steel. Post tops are trimmed as required and exposed posts are fitted with post caps.
WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY
Wood is a natural material and as a result can be subject to splitting twisting and checking as it dries. Using the higher grades of Cedar generally will provide the best defense against serious checking or loose knots falling out and proper finishing can limit the effects of weathering but we cannot guarantee that some defects will not appear as the wood ages.
Accurate Cedar ltd. offers a 1 year installation warranty that covers defects that are the result of improper installation or the use of defective materials. Factory staining services are eligible for additional warranties provided by the stain manufacturer and/or applicator, call for more information.
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