Choosing a fence is serious business. The look of your home and its value can be affected by the type of fence you choose to install. Depending on where you live and your needs, there are several types of wood for fences. It’s important to know that not all woods are created equal regarding fencing, so let’s explore the factors that go into choosing the suitable material for your home.
Type of Wood
Before deciding on the type of wood you need for your fence, you must know the available options. This will help you choose a suitable material for your style, budget, and location.
Wood is categorized by its hardness; hardwoods are harder than softwoods, but both have advantages. Softwoods tend to be lighter in weight and easier to work with because they don’t require as much sanding or finishing work as hardwoods do. However, they also tend not to last as long due to their lack of durability against moisture exposure over time. This is especially true when compared with pressure-treated lumber, which has been treated with chemicals such as copper chromate that protect against decay caused by water damage.
The next step involves ensuring all materials used meet code requirements before installing anything onto any property since local laws vary greatly depending on where someone lives. Some states require homeowners’ associations (HOA) associations to operate under strict guidelines about what kind of materials may be used during construction projects within HOAs’ jurisdiction limits. Therefore, homeowners must check their respective local laws before deciding whether or not something like wood fencing would qualify under existing regulations governing these types of activities within communities governed solely by rules set forth by HOA boards.
Quality of Wood
Choosing the right type of wood for your fence is essential, but so is ensuring that you choose a high-quality piece. Wood quality can be affected by several factors:
- The species of tree and its age. The older a tree, the denser its wood, which means it’s less likely to warp or crack.
- How it was harvested and dried. Some trees are harvested when they’re still green (young), while others are harvested after they’ve matured into full-grown trees with deep roots–this can affect how well-suited that particular piece will be for your project. Also, consider whether or not you want to choose locally sourced materials; this may help reduce transportation costs and ensure sustainability!
- Treatment options available through various treatment centers across North America today offer consumers more choices.
The Life Span of the Fence
The life span of a fence depends on the type of wood and maintenance. Fences can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years but can also be destroyed in as little as five years if not appropriately maintained.
To maintain your fence, you must know what type of wood you must take care of properly. If you are planning on hiring someone else for this task (or if there is no way around it), make sure they know what kind of wood they’re working with before getting started!
Maintenance Required
The most important thing to remember when deciding on a wood fence is that it requires regular maintenance. You should check your fence at least once a month for any damage and repair it as necessary. If you have pressure-treated wood, you may be able to go longer between cleanings since the chemicals in the preservative will prevent insects from destroying your fence.
However, if you have untreated wood (or even treated it), we recommend cleaning your fence every six months or so with soap and water or an oil-based cleaner like TSP (trisodium phosphate), which can be found at any hardware store or home center.
Straightline Fence Wood Fence Installations Are Built to Last a Lifetime
We hope this article has helped you understand how to choose the suitable wood for your fence and ensure its longevity. The most important thing to remember is that there are many factors to consider when selecting the right wood, so you must take the time to do your research before making any decisions.
We recommend looking at our selection of products and finding out which fits best with your personal needs. From there, we can help guide you through each step of building or repairing your fence so that it lasts longer than ever! Contact us today for a free estimate now!