Taking Care of Cedar Fencing
Cedar fencing is a very common choice for those who want to have a wooden fence installed around their home to protect their privacy. Its popularity is due to its attractive natural coloring, its quality, and its durability. The two most sought after types of cedar fencing are the Western Red cedar and the Northern White cedar.
The Northern White cedar is available in a broad range of grades, sizes and accents that may suit the needs of each kind of homeowner. This particular type of cedar is more durable and sturdier than the Western Red cedar. It also lends itself well to shaping and molding so that the homeowner has virtually an unlimited number of possibilities for the designs of the fence. This kind of cedar wood fencing is also easy to paint or stain so that it offers the advantage of being easy to adapt to any modifications that have to be made regarding the appearance of the home or landscaping.
Western Red cedar is also available in a wide array of sizes, accents and grades. Whether this particular kind of cedar is stained or not, it will still develop a silvery gray hue after some time because of weathering. Because its natural color is already aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, Western Red cedar is a popular choice when it comes to the installation of an outdoor fence. 
There are various types of cedar fence designs to choose from, from the simple vertical boards to the more complex designs, such as the ones with a trellis running along the top to provide support for climbing plants. Meanwhile, cedar is a kind of wood that has a strong resistance to rotting due to weathering or the wind. It also has a natural defense against termites. Fencing experts choose cedar in large part due to its ability to resist such kinds of damage. Furthermore, cedar has much less shrinkage and warping compared to the other types of wood that are being utilized for fencing. And despite its strength, cedar wood is unusually light.
Sealing or Staining Cedar Fencing?
The good news is that you don’t have to do too much to maintain the fence for years and years. You essentially have a few options.
First, you can choose to do nothing. As mentioned cedar wood fencing is extremely durable, rot resistant, and will be able to remain untreated for a long time. The downside to this choice is that the coloring of the wood on the fence will fade and turn grayish over time. This is a normal weathering process and if its appearance doesn’t matter as much to you as its structural integrity, you should be ok.
Your second option is to treat the fencing with a specialty sealant made for hardwoods like cedar, redwood, etc. These sealants can be sprayed on or brushed on, much like painting a wall in your home. By painting or sealing your cedar fence, you preserve the integrity of the natural coloring of the wood. This comes in handy if you care about matching it with cedar siding or patio furniture. Once you do stain it though, you can expect to do it every 3 to 5 years to maintain it. Personally, I think this is the better route to go, but I realize depending on the size of your fences and gates that it could easily take one or two weekends to complete the diy project. If you don’t have that kind of time, or are physically limited, you may want to consider whether its worth it to you.
In conclusion, cedar fencing is definitely one of the superior choices when it comes to erecting wooden fences. In fact, cedar wood is not just utilized for fences. It is also a popular choice for outdoor furniture and the sidings for houses. And for those who love to do things themselves, this kind of fencing is quite easy to install although this would depend a lot on the complexity of the fence design.
As an aside, prepping for cedar fencing painting or staining can start with a good pressure washing job. This video shows you how to clean cedar fencing the right way as well as the excellent results when done correctly.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s0K25Y7VdQ