Cedar vs. Treated Pine Fence: Which Wood Is Right?

Cost: Which Is Cheaper?

Treated pine almost always wins on upfront price, which is why it's the most common fence wood in East Tennessee. Cedar costs noticeably more for the same height and length. When you compare quotes, ask which wood is used for the posts, rails, and boards. Many "cedar" fences use treated pine posts, and a quote that only says "wood" doesn't tell you what you're paying for.

Durability & Rot Resistance

Treated pine gets its protection from a preservative pressed into the wood, which makes it the go-to choice for posts that sit in soil and concrete. Cedar's protection comes from natural oils in the heartwood, which help boards and pickets resist rot and insects above ground. With either wood, proper installation (posts set deep, good drainage, and boards kept off the soil) matters as much as the species.

Termites: The East Tennessee Factor

East Tennessee sits in the Southern termite belt, along with Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Mild winters and moist ground make it ideal country for subterranean termites. A single colony can hold over a million termites, and workers tunnel out up to 100 yards from the nest looking for wood to eat.

Fence posts set in the soil are exactly what they're looking for. Treated pine posts are pressure-treated for ground contact, which is why we use them on almost every wood fence we build. Untreated cedar and cypress posts don't have that protection. In our experience, cedar and cypress posts set in East Tennessee soil often need replacing within 5 to 10 years.

If you love the look of cedar or cypress, set the boards on treated pine posts. You get the look you want above ground and posts that stand up to termites below it. Learn more in our post on termites and treated pine.

Stability: Warping & Shrinking

This is where cedar earns its price. Treated pine is often still wet from the treatment process when it's installed, and as it dries it can shrink, twist, and check (small surface cracks). Cedar is lighter and more stable, so it tends to stay flatter and straighter. Some movement is natural in any wood fence and isn't a defect, but you'll usually see less of it with cedar.

Looks & Finishing

Cedar has a warm, reddish color, fine grain, and a pleasant aroma. Left unsealed, it weathers to a soft silver gray. Treated pine starts out with a greenish or tan tint and a coarser look, but it takes stain well once it has dried. Plan to wait before staining pine; cedar can usually be finished sooner. Always check a sample of your stain on the actual wood.

Maintenance & Long-Term Value

Both woods benefit from cleaning and a stain or sealer every few years. Cedar's stability and natural resistance can mean fewer board replacements over time, which offsets some of its higher price. Treated pine is easy and affordable to repair: swap a board and match it with stain. Neither is a wrong answer; it comes down to budget and how you want the fence to look as it ages.