LEARN · 5 MIN READ
Cedar vs. pine
Two woods, two budgets, two life expectancies.
The short version
Cedar looks better, lasts longer, and costs roughly 35–40% more in materials. Pressure-treated pineis the budget pick — it's cheaper upfront but needs more maintenance and replacement sooner. In DFW's heat and clay soil, both are valid choices; the right one depends on how long you plan to own the house.
Why cedar lasts longer
Western Red Cedar contains natural oils (called thujaplicins) that resist insects and rot without any chemical treatment. That's why cedar pickets are sold raw and pine pickets are pressure-treated with copper-based preservatives. A well-built cedar fence in DFW typically holds up for 15–25 years before the pickets need replacement. Pine in the same conditions usually shows real wear at 8–15 years.
Why pine still makes sense
If you're planning to sell within 5 years, the math often favors pine. Buyers care that you have a fence, but few will pay extra for the cedar premium at resale. Pine also takes stain just as well as cedar — visually they're nearly identical after one coat of cedar-tone stain.
Maintenance
Both woods need restaining every 3–5 years to maintain color and water resistance. Cedar accepts a wider range of stain colors because its natural tone is lighter. Pine starts darker and tends to "muddy" lighter stains over time.
Bug and rot resistance
Termites and carpenter ants prefer pine. Pressure treatment handles most of that risk, but the cut ends and any spots where the treatment didn't penetrate fully (knots, holes) become weak spots. Cedar's natural oils discourage both pests without any chemicals.
A note on warping
In DFW's hot, dry summers followed by wet springs, pine cups and twists more than cedar. We use stainless ring-shank nails on every build to fight this, but you'll see more "wobbly" individual pickets on a pine fence after a few years. Cedar stays straighter.
Both built the same way
Whichever wood you choose, every FixedFence build uses galvanized steel posts, a concrete-set footer, and stainless ring-shank nails. The wood is the variable — the engineering isn't.
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