Fence Question

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jan - 28 Nov 2006 00:11 GMT

Puting up an 80' fence with a bottom baseboard that is pressure
treated.
The 6' cedar pickets will be sitting above the baseboard. The 4"x4"
fence posts will be pressure treated.
Is it necessary to use pressure treated 2"x4" rails or would regular
non-treated rails be fine?

The posts are planned to be 7' apart. Location is southeast TX.

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Lawrence - 29 Nov 2006 03:48 GMT

> Puting up an 80' fence with a bottom baseboard that is pressure
> treated.
> The 6' cedar pickets will be sitting above the baseboard. The 4"x4"
> fence posts will be pressure treated.
> Is it necessary to use pressure treated 2"x4" rails or would regular
> non-treated rails be fine?

It is not necessary. It is desirable though. Seeing as how you are
using cedar for the pickets I think it makes sense to go with treated
for the substructure. I have visited the Big Thicket and happen to
know that your climate is a wet one. So, go with treated and no
regrets.

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jan - 29 Nov 2006 19:58 GMT

> > Puting up an 80' fence with a bottom baseboard that is pressure
> > treated.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> know that your climate is a wet one. So, go with treated and no
> regrets.

Thanks Lawrence.
I forgot to mention my concern of the weight of the CCA treated rails,
since subsidence is a huge issue here. But then again I don't want to
have a twisty fence either.
thanks again.

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Lawrence - 30 Nov 2006 14:34 GMT

> > > Puting up an 80' fence with a bottom baseboard that is pressure
> > > treated.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> have a twisty fence either.
> thanks again.

Well, use cedar rails if you can afford it. They will be lightweight
to avoid subsiding, stable to avoid warping, and will look far nicer.
You are already commited to an 80' stockade fence, you may as well.
Then you could apply a penetrating stain to the entire fence.

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Homeowner Forum / Construction / November 2006

Fence Question