Are you curious if cedar fence pickets are treated with chemicals or left naturally? Many homeowners want a fence that looks great, lasts long, and is safe for the yard. Cedar fence pickets are well-loved for their natural color and classic style, but you might wonder if chemical treatment is involved.
Should you be concerned about chemicals in cedar wood, or do cedar pickets have an edge over other woods like pressure-treated pine? Here’s what you need to know to keep your yard looking good and your property safe for years to come.
What Are Cedar Fence Pickets?
Cedar fence pickets are thin boards cut from cedar wood, prized for their durability, pleasant scent, and natural preservative qualities. Cedar stands out for its resistance to rot and insects, making it a highly popular option whether you’re starting a new fence or updating an existing fence.
Because of its versatility and minimal maintenance needs, cedar is often used in pickets, fence posts, and even decorative panels.
Common Uses for Cedar in Fencing
Cedar fence pickets work well for many types of wood fences. Here’s how homeowners often use cedar in their yards:
- Privacy Fences: Cedar fences are popular for privacy, helping boost property value while adding security and a classic look.
- Picket and Painted Fences: Cedar pickets can be left with their natural color or painted. They fit right in with yards that focus on curb appeal and style.
- Ranch and Perimeter Fences: Cedar posts are sturdy and can be paired with metal posts for added strength, making them great for boundary or ranch-style fences.
- Garden Enclosures: Cedar is a good choice for garden fences. Since it requires less chemical treatment, it’s also a solid choice for vegetable or flower beds.
What Does “Treated Wood” Mean?
Treated wood, like pressure-treated lumber or treated pine, undergoes a pressure treatment process that forces preservatives deep into the wood fibers. This process helps protect wood fence boards and fence posts from rot, ground moisture, and insects. Treated wood is often required when the wood comes into contact with soil, as is the case with many fence installations.
Why Wood Is Sometimes Treated With Chemicals
Some woods, like pine, need extra help to handle outdoor exposure. Treating wood with chemicals can protect it from several issues:
- Rot Prevention: Treated wood resists rot and decay, especially when the fence or posts are in contact with damp soil or concrete.
- Insect Protection: Pressure-treated lumber is better against insects like termites, which can damage an untreated fence.
- Handling Moisture: Chemical treatment helps wood endure rain and humid weather so that it won’t break down as fast.
- Increased Durability: Pressure-treated pine and other types last longer outdoors, even in tough environments.
- Budget-Friendly: Treated wood is usually more affordable than cedar. It’s a popular pick when you want a durable fence but want to keep costs down.
Are Cedar Fence Pickets Treated With Chemicals?
Most cedar fence pickets are not treated with chemicals. This makes cedar different from many other types of fence materials, especially pressure-treated wood.
Here’s why cedar stands out and is usually sold untreated, along with the key benefits that make it a popular choice:
Natural Oils Provide Built-In Protection
Cedar wood contains natural oils that serve as a natural preservative. These oils make the wood resistant to rot, fungus, and bugs, so chemical treatment is rarely required.
Exceptional Resistance to Insects and Decay
Cedar stands up to outdoor exposure better than many other types of lumber, including many kinds of wood that need to be pressure-treated. Its makeup makes it less appealing to termites and other insects.
Minimal Maintenance, No Extra Chemicals
Because cedar naturally resists damage from the elements, it needs only minimal maintenance compared to treated wood. Your cedar fence pickets will hold up for many years without chemical intervention.
Safe for Families, Gardens, and Pets
Untreated cedar is a top pick for spaces where safety matters—such as yards where children play, gardens where vegetables grow, or spots where pets roam. There’s no risk of chemical leaching into your soil.
Holds Its Appearance Over Time
Cedar keeps its natural color for a long time, eventually fading into a silvery gray from the sun and weather. To maintain the fresh, rich color, cedar can be sealed or gently stained, but this is for looks and is not the same as pressure treatment.
Option to Stain or Seal, Not Required
Staining or sealing cedar fence pickets is optional. Some homeowners choose to do this to keep the wood’s original color or to add another layer of protection, but it’s not necessary to keep the wood durable.
Health and Environmental
Benefits Since cedar fence pickets are typically left untreated, there are no added chemicals that could impact your garden, property, or local environment. This makes cedar a responsible choice for eco-conscious DIYers and property owners.
How to Tell If a Cedar Fence Picket Is Chemically Treated
If you’re unsure whether your cedar fence pickets have been through chemical treatment or the pressure treatment process, there are a few simple ways to check:
Read Labels or Tags
Most treated wood and pressure-treated lumber are clearly marked. Look for labels, end tags, or stamps on the cedar pickets and posts. These might say “pressure treated,” list the type of chemical preservatives used, or include codes like “PT” for pressure-treated.
Look at the Wood’s Color
Treated wood, especially pressure-treated pine, often has a greenish tint or even a darker, sometimes uneven color. Natural cedar pickets usually keep their rich color, ranging from light brown to reddish hues that slowly turn silvery gray with outdoor exposure.
Smell the Wood
Chemically treated wood can have a sharp or oily smell that’s different from the pleasant, woodsy scent of cedar. If your cedar fence pickets or posts don’t have that fresh cedar aroma, they could be treated.
Ask the Supplier or Fence Installer
If you still aren’t sure, ask your supplier, installer, or fencing professional. They can tell you if the cedar wood has been chemically treated, pressure-treated, stained, or left natural. This is especially important if you want the safest choice for gardens, pets, or kids.
When Might Cedar Fence Pickets Be Treated?
While most cedar fence pickets are sold untreated, there are some situations where extra protection, by sealing or chemical treatment, might be considered. Here are a few examples:
- Direct Soil Contact: If your cedar pickets, fence posts, or rails will sit directly in the ground or touch soil, extra treatment can help prevent rot. Moisture in the soil speeds up decay, so pressure-treated wood is sometimes used for posts, even in a cedar fence.
- High-Moisture Environments: In places that get lots of rain and snow or have poor drainage, cedar pickets might be sealed to give extra protection against constant moisture and to help the wood last longer.
- Added Protection for Fence Posts: Some property owners use a chemical treatment or a pressure treatment process on fence posts that hold up the fence because posts face more wear and tear from ground contact and runoff than the pickets do.
- Custom Requests: Occasionally, a homeowner may want cedar pickets or cedar posts treated or stained for a specific look or for extra durability, especially for commercial properties or specialized outdoor projects.
- Zones With Severe Insect Activity: In rare cases, if your yard or region has serious issues with termites or other wood-eating insects, extra treatment may be suggested to help protect the wood fence.
Secure and Beautify Your Space with the Best Fence
At All Over Fence, we want to help you get a wood fence that is strong, safe, and looks great. If you have questions about cedar fence pickets, pressure-treated wood, fence posts, or metal posts, we’re ready to assist you.
Our team offers residential and commercial fence installation, custom fence design, repairs, and professional fence sealing and staining to keep your fence looking its best.
Schedule a consultation with us, and let’s select the right fence and materials to fit your yard, add value, and protect your property for years to come.
