04/02/2026
Western red cedar. The best wood for a fence.
There are lots of cedar variations out there. Yellow cedar, Japanese cedar, cypress. Will they work for your fence? Yes. However, none of them will outlast genuine western red cedar. The oils in WRC make it naturally weather and insect resistant. It also is incredibly aromatic, so your fence won’t just look good, it’ll smell good, too!
All of our wood fences are installed with Grade 1 western red cedar. Grade 1 is the highest quality board produced in which knots are allowed. #1 cedar will have small, tight knots with very little defect, for a more uniform look.
Western red cedar is not kiln dried, so it will shrink somewhat as it dries and ages. However, it will not shrink like treated lumber, and it resists the warping, twisting, and cracking often seen with pressure treated pine.
We offer two picket options: a 5/8” Grade 1 and a 3/4” Grade 1. 5/8” is the standard picket thickness, and it works very well. Upgrading to a 3/4” thick picket adds rigidity and a more robust looking finished product.
If you’re considering having a wood fence installed, be sure to ask the contractor about the type of pickets that will be used. Our choice? Western red cedar. Every time.
