Q. What advantages are there to using
Western Red Cedar as a fence board compared with other
fencing products?
|
A.
Western Red Cedar’s natural beauty and durability
lends itself well to any formal or informal landscape.
Cedar varies in color from a light blond, golden yellow
or a red, to a dark chocolate brown, adding to its
visual interest. Cedar is naturally insect and rot
resistant. If left untreated the fence boards will
mellow to a light silvery, gray color.
All of our fence boards are individually hand graded
by skilled craftspeople. You can count on the manufacturing
dimensions to be consistent from board to board. |
Q.
Is it necessary to apply a water sealer to my cedar fence?
|
A.
No, the application of a wood sealer or preservative
is not absolutely necessary with cedar, but it will
extend the life and original beauty of the wood. Please
see your home center expert for more information. |
Q.
Can I apply a color stain to my cedar fence?
|
A.
Yes, cedar readily accepts commercial stains. You can
choose from opaque, semi-transparent or transparent stains
in a variety of colors. Please
see your paint specialist for more information. |
Q.
Is it possible to paint my cedar fence?
|
A.
Cedar fences can be painted. A coat of wood primer should
be applied to the fence prior to painting. Please
see your home center expert to source the
proper recommended application. |
Q.
How long can I expect my cedar fence to last?
|
A.
Your fence will give you many years of service, depending
upon geographical location and proper installation and
maintenance. |
| Q.
Can I expect shrinkage with cedar fence boards? |
A.
Varying shrinkage is a natural aging process of all rough-green
fence boards and will vary upon geographical location
and application.
Approximately 5% plus or minus lateral shrinkage is not
uncommon. |
Q.
How can I assure privacy and avoid spaces between the fence
boards?
|
A.
You can choose a fence design such as alternating boards
(good-neighbor fence) or a board-on-board design to completely
eliminate the spaces.
*See
fence design. |
Q.
What dimensions are offered in the cedar fencing product
line?
|
A.
Cedar boards are available in 4’ through 8’
lengths. We offer our boards in 3.5”, 4”,
5.5”
and 6” widths. (We do not manufacture cedar posts
or rails.) |
Q.
Where can I find cedar posts and rails?
|
A.
Your local home center maintains a large selection of cedar
fence posts and rails to choose from. |
Q.
How do I choose a fence style?
|
A.
The basic fence style consists of horizontal fence boards
attached to 2x4 rails, which are attached to 4x4 post
uprights. Many styles are available to compliment your
landscaping needs. Some of the more popular ones are
board-on-board, horizontal or vertical, curved panel
boards, alternating boards (good-neighbor fence), alternating
vertical and horizontal panels, diagonal boards, horizontal
louvers and lattice-topped. Please see fence
design for
illustrationed examples. Ask
your home center expert for more information. |
Q.
What
materials will I need to build a cedar
fence?
|
A.
Your supply list will depend upon the fence design you
will be using. Your home center expert will gladly
assist you in developing your supply list. |
Q.
What purpose do the fence rails serve?
|
A.
The fence rails serve to keep the fence straight and square
and provide a surface for attaching the fence boards. |
Q.
How many fence rails should I use for each 6’ to 8’
section?
|
A.
The use of two or three rails (we recommend a minimum
of 3 rails) is acceptable for your cedar fence, depending
on your chosen design and project budget. The use of
three rails will increase the life and strength of the
fence. |
Q.
Where should I place the rails on the fence posts?
|
A.
Customarily, the top rail is attached at the top of the
post or 6” from the post top, depending on your fence
design. The middle rail is spaced evenly between the top
and bottom rails. The bottom rail is commonly placed 6”
above the ground. |
Q.
Are pressure treated posts superior to cedar posts?
|
A.
The two posts are equally strong and long lasting. The
pressure treated post is generally more cost effective.
Please see your home center expert for
region specific recommendations. |
Q.
What are the best fasteners to use when installing cedar
boards?
|
A.
Corrosion resistant stainless wood screws or galvanized
nails are preferred, to avoid discoloration of the fence
boards, and because of their increased long term durability.
The stainless screws are more costly, but well worth
it. |
Q.
How
far apart should the fence posts be spaced?
|
A.
It is recommended that fence posts are spaced 6’-8’
apart, depending on your fence design. |
Q.
Will the fence posts out last the fence boards and rails?
|
A.
Generally the fence posts are the first to fail, because
they have direct ground contact. |
Q.
Do I need to concrete the fence posts into the ground?
|
A.
The use of concrete in the posts holes is highly advised
to increase the over all life and strength of your fence.
It is also a good idea to place a large stone or piece
of treated wood in the bottom of the hole as a post
foundation and for drainage. It is also advisable to
"cap" the concrete at the surface to drain
water away from the post. |
| Q.
Is it necessary to apply post caps to the posts? |
A.
No, although the addition of post caps will add interest
to the design element and will aide in protecting the
post from water and sun damage. |
Q.
Can I have the fence boards touching the ground?
|
A.
We do not advise that fence boards make contact with
the ground. Direct ground contact with any wood product
will encourage the boards to decay and discolor more
quickly. It is advisable to place the fence boards no
less than two inches from the ground surface. |
Q.
What end trims are available in the cedar product line?
|
A.
We offer our cedar boards in two end trims; dog ear
and square/flat top. |
Q.
How do I calculate how many cedar fence boards I will need
to complete my project?
|
A.
Please see your home center expert for
more information. |
Q.
How do I attach the fence rails to the fence posts?
|
A.
There are many acceptable methods. The choice is yours,
depending on your design, project budget and skill level.
The easiest method is to use galvanized fence brackets.
The rails may also be attached by nailing or screwing
a butt joint (with or without a nailing block), a lap
joint, or by cutting a dado joint. Please
see your home center expert for more information. |
Q.
How do I build my fence on uneven terrain?
|
A.
If your slope is not too steep you can continue to build
your fence following the gentle contour of the ground.
If the slope of your land is steep, it would be advisable
to
“step” your fence. Please
see your home center expert for more information. |
| Q.
If my contractor is not familiar with TMI's fence boards
where can I direct him to purchase them? |
A.
You can find TMI's fence boards at numerous lumber yards
& distributors across the United States including Home
Depot and Lowe's. |
