homer2654 wrote:
Robert, So if you don't use treated pickets, what do you use? Cedar? I
guess cedar doesn't warp as much or at all?

I didn't have the benefit of being able to use four horizontal rails,
which would probably help as you've said. Here's the fence I built (I
copied someone's idea):

http://www.educ.sfu.ca/kegan/sketchbig.jpeg

I suppose I could use horizontal rails on the backside of the fence
that faces my neighbor to align the bowing planks, or maybe I should
scrap them and go buy a bunch of cedar planks?

Anyway thanks for the help and any more comments you guys might have.


With a fence like that, you can use anything you want for the
pickets. The most durable and stable would be cedar or
redwood. You could also use cypress, but it is more prone to
warping than the others.

I can tell you that you will probably never be happy with
treated pickets unless you upsize to 5/4 or 2x material. Even
then you are going to have to lay them out and cull the warped
ones.


You have discovered why I will NOT install treated pickets on
a fence. It will warp and then I will get complaints. Then,
even if there were no complaints, someone will ask the owners
who built their fence and they will give out my company name.

I made an attempt to use treated pickets on a fence with fair
results. We ran four horizontal rails, then carefully screwed
each picket. The results were the best you could get with
pressure treated fencing. Of course, the extra cost for the
added rails, plus the extra care (and time) to screw rather
than nail caused the final product to cost more than a cedar
picket fence would have cost.

--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX




--
Robert Allison
Rimshot, Inc.
Georgetown, TX