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That time a contractor told me to stop using pressure treated lumber for everything | Builders Forum - Talk Freely

That time a contractor told me to stop using pressure treated lumber for everything

An old timer at the lumber yard told me pressure treated wood warps way worse than cedar for fence rails, but I didn't believe him. Three months later I had to replace half the panels because the boards twisted so bad in the sun. Has anyone else had luck with a different wood type for horizontal fences?

3 comments

3 Comments

skyler_smith853mo ago

Honestly, that old timer was totally right, and I learned the same lesson the hard way. That line about "boards twisted so bad in the sun" really hit home because my first fence looked like a roller coaster after a few months with pressure treated pine. Ngl, people sleep on this, but the real mistake isn't just the wood type, it's how you install it. If you don't let pressure treated lumber dry out completely before screwing it down, you're basically trapping all that moisture inside and it'll warp like crazy no matter what. For horizontal fences, cedar is better for warping, but I've also seen guys use cypress or even tropical hardwoods like ipe if you have the budget and want something that won't move at all. Just gotta pick the right wood for the job and remember that pressure treated is for ground contact, not for looking pretty on a sunny wall.

nina_johnson863mo ago

3 months in and my fence was literally doing the Macarena every time the wind blew... learned that lesson the hard way right along with you.

johnson.jesse3mo ago

First time I built a fence I used regular pressure treated pine and it twisted within two months, so I was convinced cedar was the only way to go. But after seeing a buddy's horizontal fence with cypress hold up for years without a single warp, I have to admit I changed my tune. That old timer knew what he was talking about, and I'm glad you posted this because it finally made the difference for me.