Why some posts last longer in the ground than others

Sterling Fence Inc. is constantly contracting to replace the post that have weakened on older wood fences. Why do some posts last longer than others?  Its almost always due to the moisture in the ground being greater in one area than another. At Sterling Fence Inc. we will look at a yard with a 20 year old fence and several broken posts but 90% of the posts are good. While its impractical to test soil moisture in different areas of the yard, it is usually clear which areas are wetter than others.  It may be a garden area, an area where the sump pumps releases water or a low spot in the yard.  Different soils hold moisture differently as well. Clay areas hold moisture more than sandy soils.  Peat soils indicate moisture.  Posts don't deteriorate by themselves it takes moisture.

Treated pine wood posts versus Western Red Cedar posts,,,which to use

There has always been discussions on using treated wood or Western Red Cedar in the installation of wood fence. Lets look at posts. Sterling Fence Inc. uses Western Red Cedar wood posts...why? It's really a question of the relative stability of the two woods. Treated wood is almost always pine, Its an inexpensive wood and without treating the wood, its life expectancy is less than 5 years. It's also a very unstable wood. In the lumber industry its called " propeller wood" for its tendancy to twist and warp. While it may last a few more years in the ground than Western Red Cedar, it will ruin the look of the entire fence as it twists and warps. Sterling Fence Inc. uses Cedar which is stable and will give you many years of service and at the same time keep the fence straight and true.

Wood Fence,

Our installation crews at Sterling Fence Inc. take pride in their craftsmanship. We have many referrals and repeat customers. On privacy and picket fences we set post approximately 3’ in the ground (8” diameter footing) and cement top 2/3’s so post do not rot prematurely.
Fences conform to the contour of the ground and posts. Gates are custom fabricated at the job site, with heavy decorative hardware being used. Good fences must be straight and clearing obstacles in the way is important.
We inspect the ground during bid quotation and modify the building of the fence if necessary. All types of dirt, clay, sand, black dirt, peat, and gravel are taken into consideration.
Located in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, Sterling Fence Inc. offers a free wood fencing quote

Horse and Paddock Fence

Sterling Fence Inc. sells and installs many different styles and types of materials for horse fencing. One popular style is our Mountain Split rail. Using 11' long rails of mixed hardwoods and locust or treated pine posts, this material offers strength and longevity. The rails overlap each other through the post for strength and gives a  look that can only be matched in the Unionville Pa hunt country.

Cedar posts or treated pine, which is better??

The question of what type of wood to use always comes up in discussing the longevity of wood fences. The answer is simple, Treated pine posts will last longer than cedar. The problem with using pine is that it is an unstable wood. Lumber industry experts call treated pine " propeller wood".  It will twist and warp over a short time, ruining the look of any wood fence. While it may last longer than Cedar, the twisting and warping will negate that advantage. Sterling Fence Inc. uses western red cedar posts because of this problem. The increased life of the post is not great enough to compensate for the instability of the wood

Wood Fence repair

Sterling Fence Inc. repairs wood fencing. The lifespan of a wood fence is approximately twice the lifespan of the posts. Within the life of the fence, the posts usually need to be replaced once. The lifespan is determined by presence of moisture in the soil. The posts will deteriorate over time and eventually break with strong winds after becoming weak, Sterling Fence Inc. replaces these posts, no need to replace the fence.

Where does Sterling Fence Inc work,

Sterling Fence Inc. locations :
The fencing contractors at Sterling Fence Inc. install chain link, wood panel, vinyl and ornamental fence. We are a full-service fencing company that provides service throughout the Twin Cities including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Roseville, Minnetonka, Eagan, Apple Valley, Shakopee, Edina, Eden Prairie, Chaska, Chanhassen, Waconia, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Rosemount, Wayzata, Bloomington, Burnsville and Brooklyn Park, MN. We are insured and licensed to operate in the state of Minnesota.