First things first…understanding grades of lumber.
If you want to understand lumber grading like a pro, you need to learn to talk the talk. So here’s your cheat sheet—a little guide to the lingo.
Lumber is not all created equal. In fact, each individual board is inspected and graded by a certified agency. They inspect it for numerous different factors, but two of the terms you’re going to hear most often when discussing lumber are “knotty” and “clear”.
The clear grade is exactly what it sounds like—visually clean and free from defects. You will see only a few, if any, knots, streaks, or any other kind of visual imperfections in the board. Knotty grades allow more inclusions. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Structurally speaking, knotty grades are still an excellent and durable choice—they just have a more casual, rustic appearance to them than clear lumber does. Obviously, clear is much more expensive lumber. Because of the price variance, most people choose knotty for fencing.
Within these varieties are grades such as “1 and better” or “2 and better.” “1” represents the very finest lumber. The “and better” part of the phrase means that when you buy a lot of “2 and better” boards, you’re guaranteed* that nothing in the assortment you receive will be lower than a 2, and some if it is going to be better than a 2. Grade 1 is custom order only because of the price. Grade 2 has small knots and inclusions and is the most common material used. Grade 3 or “big box” stores lumber is builder grade with many knots and inclusions.
Our typical fence installation consists of the following:
- 1″x 4″ or 1″x6″ Cedar pickets either flat or dog eared
- 1″x 4″ top trim on all fences
- 2″x 4″ rails
- Heavy gauge steel posts set two to three feet deep depending on soil composition
- 2″x 6″ pressure treated bottom board
We do primarily side by side and Board on Board and styles.
Rules that ensure you have built a fence that will last:
- While some customers prefer pine, Cedar outlasts pine every time.
- City codes are starting to require metal posts instead of wood posts because they won’t rot. If you still have the option of using wood posts, make sure they are pressure treated.
- We always use 2×4’s for fence rails. Superior rails will prevent your fence from sagging down the road. The industry standard is 2×3’s.
- Place your posts close enough to keep the fence straight. Six foot centers for an eight foot high fence and eight foot centers for a six foot high fence. If board on board, always six foot centers because of weight.
Warranty
Our 5-year Installation warranty
Quality installation using quality materials should provide a fence that lasts for years to come. We will warranty any defects in workmanship for a period of five years. This covers installation errors. Wood fencing materials are subject to change due to exposure to the elements. Aging, warping, natural color change, wind and normal wear and tear are not covered.
*Call for full details
