Pressure-Treated Pine vs. Cedar Pickets: What I Tell Every Customer at Commonwealth Fence Company
Hey there — I’m the owner of Commonwealth Fence Company, and over the past 12-plus years I’ve built thousands of fences right here in Central Kentucky. From Lexington to Frankfort, Winchester to Richmond, one question comes up on every single estimate: “Should we go with pressure-treated pine pickets or cedar?” After replacing my share of failed fences and watching others age like fine bourbon, here’s exactly how I explain it to my Kentucky customers.
Let’s talk money first, because I know budgets are real. Right now, a 6-foot dog-ear pressure-treated pine picket costs me about $2.10–$2.90. The same size cedar picket is running $5–$7 (and climbing). On a typical Kentucky backyard privacy fence (150–250 linear feet), choosing cedar instead of pine usually adds $900–$1,600 to the total. If you’re trying to stay under a certain number, good-quality pine is absolutely solid, and I’ll warranty it without hesitation.
Now, longevity in Kentucky’s heat, humidity, and hard freezes. Today’s pressure-treated pine is MCA-treated and ground-contact rated where it matters. When we set posts in concrete and keep the pickets elevated, I routinely see 20 years on the framework and 15-20 years on the pickets. Add a good semi-transparent stain every 4–5 years, and plenty of my pine fences sail past the 20-year mark.
Cedar is Kentucky’s sweetheart for a reason. Those natural oils laugh at our wet springs and carpenter bees. I’ve pulled down 20-year-old cedar fences around Lexington that still looked fantastic.
Looks? Cedar wins every beauty contest. Rich color, amazing smell, tight grain. Pine starts out wet and greenish, then grays fast if you don’t stain it. Most of my pine customers either paint it or let it go natural Kentucky barn-board style.
My most requested fence lately is the Kentucky “hybrid”: pressure-treated posts and framing (where rot attacks hardest) with cedar pickets on the front for that gorgeous curb appeal. You get almost all of cedar’s lifespan and beauty for about half the up-charge.
Bottom line from a guy who lives and works right here in the Bluegrass: both materials work great when the fence is built Kentucky-tough. Pine saves you money today. Cedar saves you money tomorrow. Give us a call at Commonwealth Fence Company — we’ll bring real samples to your property and help you pick exactly what fits your budget and your backyard.
Can’t wait to build you a beautiful Commonwealth fence,
Les West
Owner-Commonwealth Fence Company
