what material for fence

mopar · Apr 3, 2004

hi, looking at installing a fence for property line and looking for peoples experience with different materials. the fence style for now is split rail. we are currently looking at cedar would like to hear pro's and con's for this and other materials.also another question is how far in the ground would these post go?

DAP · Apr 5, 2004

Mopar ...

I'll make the assumption that this fence has no function other than to mark a boundry? i.e. not meant to keep things out or keep things in.

Cedar .. pros, can be cheaper than other matierals CONS: cedar posts in 3ft holes won't last as long as some other materials due to wet rot.

Pressure treated pine posts or locust will last 20 yrs or longer. Posts are usually sunk 3 to 4 ft, depending on soil types.

For your application, the rails could be cedar if its cheaper. You'll have no stresses on them other than weather and split rails are easy to swap out.

In my region, a 3 rail split rail fence with PT pine posts at 8ft centers and cedar rails sells for about $8 p/ft installed. NOTE: these are pre-Iraq war prices.

Hope this helps out.

mopar · Apr 5, 2004

thanks, you are correct no live stock or anything like that just property marker. the pressure treated pine i've seen here is basic split rail the ends taper down,what i like about the cedar that i've seen is the uprights are round and the rails are round with dowel which was a liitle different look than the basic split rail, maybe i'll have to look for pine that way if the ground contact is going to be a problem

wroughtn_harv · Apr 7, 2004

Some of the vinyl manufacturers are offering a split rail look in different colors. They're expensive but if you're not too wild with the weed eater they'll out live wood.

DAP · Apr 7, 2004

harv ... you're right about expensive. I priced that material in july of 2001. In my region, it came installed at 15$ p/ft.

Pros of vinyl: no painting, longevity and nice look (subjective).

Cons of vinyl: expensive and a p*ssed off mare or other hard knock will shatter those rails or posts when the temps are way down

fivestring · Apr 7, 2004

Locust makes good posts that last a lot longer than cedar.
At my great-grandfather's place, they have a fence that was built in the late 1800's of locust. Those posts are as solid today as they were 100 years ago.

DAP · Apr 7, 2004

5 ... there is one good reason why ya don't see much locust postwork any more. Ever try to cut black locust? I don't care what ya use to cut it either. You Stihl owners can start gruntin now, but it makes no nevermind.

Black locust will eat a man or a machine up as an appetizer.

Way worse than tryin to split elm by hand too. I've done both of these. My Stihl 310 witha new chain didn't like the locust much. And my right shoulder didn't care much for a 7lb wedge and an 18 lb maul and a dead elm. (They're all dead just about, those elms.)

fivestring · Apr 7, 2004

Ain't that the truth. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I bet my great grandfather and crew put in some labor building that fence.
This was before electricity, too! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

dmccarty · Apr 7, 2004

Fivestring,

It might have taken some labor, but the fence is still there after
all this time so they must have done it right. Sure wish my
projects would last that long! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Later,
Dan McCarty

wroughtn_harv · Apr 8, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( harv ... you're right about expensive. I priced that material in july of 2001. In my region, it came installed at 15$ p/ft.)</font>

I've got a product developed but waiting for the patent process that would be competitive in price. But, and this butt is of Barr proportions, instead of vinyl it's made out of powdercoated pipe. So you have all the advantages of vinyl and none of the disadvantages. The same installers that install vinyl or wood could install pipe rail fencing.