HerHusband wrote:

Most other species of the 1x4's I have priced locally are almost as
expensive as the cedar 1x4's. So, I'm trying to come up with other options.

I don't know where you are located, but around here (Boise, Idaho), you can
buy 1x4x10 #3 for about $2.50 each which is much less expensive than 2x
framing lumber. The #3 pine isn't perfect but usually isn't that bad either.
I bought a bunch this weekend that almost looked like #2.

Lance