Q: What are the advantages to using cedar fencing?
A: Cedar contains naturally occurring oils and acids wood that make it repellant to most destructive insects. Therefore cedar fencing requires no treating and cedar also tends to warp less than other woods.
Q: What causes the stains on my fence pickets?
A: Stains can be caused by molds and mildew, water logging and corrosion from the metal fasteners that hold the pickets to the crossbeams. Unless your pickets are made from cedar you should always waterproof your fence and reapply the finish as recommended. If your fence is made of cedar pickets you should also fasten them to the crossbeams with aluminum, polymer-coated or aluminum fasteners to avoid streaking that occurs when galvanized fasteners eventually begin to corrode.
Q: Should the pickets of my fence touch the ground?
A: No, your fence should not contact the surface of the ground or any vegetation for that matter. Ideally you should provide a small gap between the bottom of your fence pickets and the ground. Pickets that touch the ground will wick (?pick?) up rain water and provide access to termites. If you need a barrier along the ground you may want to consider leaving a gap between the pickets and ground and installing a horizontal 2” x 6” baseboard, or “kicker”, along the bottom. This approach will prolong the life of the pickets and the baseboard can be replaced when water or termite damage is observed.
Q: How deep should fence posts be set?
A: Post holes should be dug to a minimum of two feet in depth but you should also consider the type of soil the posts are being set in. If the soil is sandy, rocky or otherwise unstable you should dig deeper to ensure that the posts will not shift once set. The hole diameter should be at least three times the diameter of the post you are using.
Q: Does cedar and redwood fencing require treating to prevent decay?
A: Although cedar and redwood fencing is often stained for aesthetic reasons they do not require treatment to inhibit decay like pine fencing does. Applying a sealer will maximize the natural defenses of redwood and cedar but it is not necessary.
Q: How tall should the safety fence around my pool be?
A: Most communities have ordinances that specify the minimum height of pool fences. Typically the height is 6 feet or taller. Check your local community ordinance to ensure that you are in compliance before having your pool fence installed. Failure to comply can result in substantial fines, place children at risk and make you vulnerable to civil and criminal law suits.
Q: How do I make sure I’m not crossing the property line when I build my new fence?
A: The only way to ensure that your new fence doesn’t cross the property line is by having a fence line survey done by a licensed land surveyor. Many people mistakenly think that trees or other landmarks indicate the boundaries of their property and place fencing accordingly. If it turns out that your fence encroaches onto a neighbors’ property or a public right of way you could be forced to remove the fencing.
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