What Oklahoma Homeowners Should Know

If you’re getting quotes for a new cedar privacy fence, there’s one question you should probably be asking:

What kind of cedar are you actually quoting me?

A lot of homeowners are surprised to learn that when two fence companies quote a “cedar fence,” they may not be quoting the same material at all.

Here in Oklahoma, two products you’ll commonly see are Western Red Cedar and what’s generally sold in the fence industry as Japanese Cedar.

They can both make a nice-looking fence, and both have their place. But they aren’t the same product, and that’s something we think homeowners should understand before comparing two fence estimates based on price alone.

At Above All Fence Company, we’ve been building fences in the Oklahoma City metro since 2008. Over the years, we’ve installed and worked around just about every type and grade of wood fencing available. Here’s what we’ve learned.

What Is Western Red Cedar?

Western Red Cedar is native to the Pacific Northwest and has been one of the preferred woods for exterior construction for a very long time.

There’s a reason it’s so popular for fencing.

It’s naturally resistant to decay, relatively lightweight, dimensionally stable, and holds up well outdoors when quality material is installed correctly.

Good Western Red Cedar also has the rich color and grain most people picture when they think of a premium cedar fence.

But not all Western Red Cedar is equal either.

There are different grades, thicknesses and qualities available. That’s why simply seeing “Western Red Cedar” on an estimate still doesn’t tell the whole story.

What Is Japanese Cedar?

Japanese Cedar is another product that has become common in the fencing industry.

Despite the name, it isn’t the same species as Western Red Cedar. The wood commonly marketed as Japanese Cedar is typically Cryptomeria japonica, a species native to Japan that is also grown commercially in other parts of the world.

It can make an attractive fence and is often available at a lower price than comparable Western Red Cedar.

That’s one reason you see more fence companies offering it.

And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that.

The important part is knowing which material you’re buying and what you’re comparing it to.

If one contractor quotes Japanese Cedar and another quotes premium Western Red Cedar, looking only at the total price isn’t really an apples-to-apples comparison.

The Biggest Difference We Notice: The Material Itself

When you’ve handled thousands and thousands of cedar pickets over the years, you start noticing differences pretty quickly.

Western Red Cedar generally has a different feel, grain structure and appearance than Japanese Cedar.

Quality Western Red Cedar tends to be very stable and works extremely well for privacy fencing. That’s particularly important in Oklahoma, where a fence is going to experience everything from extreme summer heat and drought to heavy rain, freezing temperatures and strong winds.

Wood is a natural product. Every wood fence is going to expand, contract, dry and weather over time.

The goal isn’t to find wood that never moves—that doesn’t exist.

The goal is to start with good material and build the fence correctly so it performs as well as possible over its life.

Thickness Matters Too

This is where fence estimates can get especially confusing.

Two companies might both quote a cedar privacy fence, but one may be using a thinner picket while the other is using a much heavier board.

For example, on many of our premium cedar installations, we use 7/8-inch-thick cedar pickets.

Put one of those next to a thinner cedar picket and the difference is immediately noticeable.

More material means a heavier, more substantial board.

That’s something you won’t necessarily notice by looking at a picture of two brand-new fences on Facebook.

You will notice it when you pick the boards up and compare them side by side.

That’s why we encourage homeowners to ask about species, grade AND thickness when comparing quotes.

What About Knots?

Here’s another misconception we hear sometimes:

“The better cedar is the one without knots.”

Not necessarily.

Knots are a natural part of lumber. Depending on the grade, Western Red Cedar fencing can absolutely contain knots.

What matters is the overall quality and grade of the material, the condition of the boards and how they’re selected and installed.

A knot doesn’t automatically make a cedar picket bad.

At the same time, extremely low-grade lumber with excessive defects can obviously affect the finished product.

This is another area where experience matters. A good installer knows which boards belong on the fence and which ones don’t.

Which Cedar Looks Better?

This one is subjective.

Fresh Western Red Cedar can have beautiful variation from lighter honey colors to deep reddish and brown tones. It’s one of the reasons customers choose it.

Japanese Cedar can also be very attractive when it’s new.

But here’s something homeowners should understand about any cedar fence:

The original color isn’t permanent.

Unless the wood is maintained with an appropriate stain or sealer, exposure to sunlight and weather will eventually cause cedar to fade and weather toward a gray or silver color.

So if maintaining that rich cedar appearance is important to you, plan on maintaining the fence.

Is Western Red Cedar Worth the Extra Money?

For our own projects, when someone wants a premium wood privacy fence and the budget allows for it, Western Red Cedar is generally our preference.

We’ve worked with it for years. We know how it behaves, we know what we’re getting with good material, and we’ve seen how properly built Western Red Cedar fences perform over time.

That doesn’t mean every homeowner needs the most expensive cedar available.

There are situations where budget is the biggest consideration, and Japanese Cedar can provide another option.

What we don’t like is when homeowners think they’re comparing identical fences simply because both estimates say “cedar.”

They’re not necessarily identical.

Don’t Forget About the Rest of the Fence

Here’s something that’s probably even more important:

The best cedar in the world won’t save a poorly built fence.

The pickets are only one part of the system.

Post selection, post spacing, rails, fasteners, concrete, gates and installation methods all play a role in how well a fence performs.

You could spend the money for premium Western Red Cedar and still end up with problems if the rest of the fence is built poorly.

Likewise, a contractor who understands fence construction can get much better performance out of the materials they’re working with.

That’s why we don’t believe homeowners should choose a fence based solely on the species of cedar—or solely on price.

Look at the entire fence.

Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Cedar Fence Quote

Before choosing a contractor, ask:

• What species of cedar are you using?
• What grade is it?
• How thick are the pickets?
• What type of posts are being used?
• How far apart are the posts?
• How many rails will the fence have?
• What type of fasteners are being used?
• How are the gates constructed?
• Is the gate frame wood or steel?
• What warranty comes with the fence?

A reputable fence contractor shouldn’t have any problem answering those questions.

And if you’re comparing multiple estimates, getting those answers can explain why one quote is considerably higher or lower than another.

Our Preference at Above All Fence Company

We’ve been installing fences throughout the Oklahoma City metro since 2008, and our approach has always been pretty simple:

We’d rather build a fence we’re proud to put our name on than compete to see who can build the cheapest fence in town.

For customers looking for a premium cedar privacy fence, we’re big fans of quality Western Red Cedar, especially the heavier material we use on many of our projects.

But we’re also going to tell you what you’re getting.

Because whether you choose Western Red Cedar, Japanese Cedar or another fencing material, you should know exactly what you’re paying for.

When comparing fence quotes, don’t just ask:

“How much is it per foot?”

Ask:

“What am I getting for that price?”

That question can tell you a whole lot more about the fence you’ll still be looking at years from now.

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