Texas State Fence Co. BLOG

Dallas Fence Repair Company owner Sean Eubanks, President of Texas State Fence Company, discusses wood fence material options.

Not all wood fences are created equal. The quality of the wood makes a big difference in the quality of the fence. There are a number of options for wood materials to consider when building a fence and understanding the differences can help you to make a better informed choice.

Lumber Yard

In general there are three types of wood that you can use for your fence, without getting into extremely high priced exotic woods.  The three woods are pine, cedar and redwood.  In North Texas the most common material is pine, followed by cedar, with redwood being the least common.

Generally, pine is the least expensive because pine grows closer to North Texas and the transportation costs are lower, but it is also a much more plentiful wood and comes from a faster growing tree, all of which keep the cost of pine low.  Pine comes in your choice of either pressure treated or non-treated.  Pressure treated is more expensive but is more likely to last longer lowering your overall cost of ownership.  Untreated is less expensive and is therefore more commonly used, however, it cal last an extremely long time if you take care to maintain the fence with protective paints or stains to prevent water from penetrating the wood fibers and degrading the material.  Water is the enemy of wood fences.

Redwood and Cedar is more expensive since it must be imported from more distant growing regions. Redwood has a great reputation as a durable fence material, however, much of the reputation for durability comes from the fact that for many years redwood fences were built from the denser heartwood cut from old growth trees. Most of the old growth trees that can be harvested have been cut and the redwood that is available on the market today is typically cut from sapwood which is more plentiful but less dense. The durability of these softer wood cuts will be less and the wood will require more protection to have the same lifespan as heartwood will have.

When it comes to Custom Fences Dallas Fence Repair Company owner Sean Eubanks will be delighted to visit with you and help you fully understand your options. Sean and his team at Texas State Fence Company have over 15 years experience installing all types of fences and automatic gates. Texas State Fence Company provides quality fencing to both residential and commercial clients in North Texas. Sean builds fences and Automatic Gates in Dallas and also serves Plano, Frisco, Allen, McKinney and the general Collin County area.  Please give Sean Eubanks a call at 972-898-1307 for more information

Dallas Fence Company owner Sean Eubanks, President of Texas State Fence Company, installs custom wood fencing for homeowners.

Custom Residential Wood Fence

While fence styles have not changed much over the years the materials that are available have undergone some significant improvements and changes over recent decades.  A major new material on the market is a variety of plastics and hybrids that combine plastics with other materials such as wood fibers or stone.  Additionally, metal has undergone a rebirth of popularity as a core material to the industry.

In the North Texas area the single most popular residential fencing material is still wood due to its relatively low cost and high flexibility. Wood fences are most commonly made from yellow pine that is stained to protect the wood from the elements. Another common wood is cedar which is more resistant to the elements but has a higher cost.  It is relatively common to see fences that have wood planking with steel posts for support. While wood 4×4 posts used to be the preferred material for support the greater life span of steel posts and their greater strength to withstand wind storms makes them a preferred post material.

It is also common to see fences with mixed materials such as wood fences covering a large space such as a back yard, with iron fences for the driveway and entry ways, and even brick or stone fences for a portion of the front façade to make the fence seem like an extension of the material that the home is built out of.  Tubular steel fencing is common in back yards where views warrant an unimpeded sightline or where building restrictions limit the fence such as when a golf coarse runs behind a row of homes.

For most homeowners the first choice of materials is wood because of the versatility, affordability and the ease of use for working with the materials.  Almost every homeowner can works with wood to a sufficient degree that they can repair a wood fence if needed. Certainly painting or staining a wood fence, part of the ongoing maintenance requirement of wood fences, is something that is well within the skill set of most homeowners.

When it comes to Custom Fences Dallas Fence Company owner Sean Eubanks will be delighted to visit with you and help you fully understand your options. Sean and his team at Texas State Fence Company have over 15 years experience installing all types of fences and automatic gates. Texas State Fence Company provides quality fencing to both residential and commercial clients in North Texas. Sean builds fences and Automatic Gates in Dallas and also serves Plano, Frisco, Allen, McKinney and the general Collin County area.  Please give Sean Eubanks a call at 972-898-1307 for more information