Which lasts longer in Texas — cedar or pine?

#1 grade cedar: 20–25 years installed properly with re-staining every 2–3 years. Pressure-treated pine: 12–15 years before pickets start splitting and crowning. Cedar's natural oils repel insects and resist rot; pine relies on chemical treatment that fades over time.

How much more does cedar cost than pine?

Roughly 35–55% more per linear foot in DFW. A 6-foot side-by-side pine fence runs $22–$32/lf installed; the same fence in cedar is $30–$45/lf. Over a 20-year life, cedar usually wins on total cost per year because you only pay once.

Will pine warp in Texas heat?

Some. Pine pickets typically cup or crown about 1/16 to 1/8 inch in their first DFW summer as the lumber dries and hits ambient humidity. Quality cedar with #1 grade has tighter grain and stays flatter. The pine cupping isn't a failure, but it's visible side-by-side with cedar.

Can I stain a pressure-treated pine fence?

Yes, but wait 6–12 months after install. PT pine is wet when delivered from the lumberyard; trying to stain too soon traps the moisture and the stain peels. Once it's dry, semi-transparent oil-based stain works the same as on cedar.

What about cedar grades — is #1 worth the upgrade?

Almost always. #1 grade has fewer and smaller knots, tighter grain, and longer clear runs. #2 grade is what most national fence companies push because it's $0.50–$1.00 cheaper per picket — but you're trading the entire fence's visual quality for $150 total on a 150-foot run. We use #1 by default.

Cedar vs Pressure-Treated Pine for a Texas Fence

Every cedar fence in North Texas costs more than the equivalent pine fence. Every pine fence ages faster and needs replacing sooner. That's the trade — and which side you pick depends on how long you plan to live in the house, how much you care about the look, and whether you want to be replacing pickets and re-staining boards in year 12. After 10 years of building both, here's the breakdown.

Lifespan

#1 grade cedar has natural oils that repel insects and resist rot without chemical treatment. Installed with proper post depth and concrete, re-stained every 2–3 years, a cedar fence in DFW will go 20–25 years before the pickets need significant replacement.

Pressure-treated pine relies on chemical injection (typically alkaline copper quaternary, or ACQ) to do the same job. The treatment is real, but it fades from the outermost wood layers over the first 5–8 years, and the lumber itself isn't naturally rot-resistant beneath the treated zone. Most DFW pine fences need significant repair by year 12 and full replacement by year 15.

Cost (DFW 2025)

Installed pricing in our service area:

Pine side-by-side, 6 ft: $22–$32 per linear foot
Cedar side-by-side, 6 ft: $30–$45 per linear foot
Cedar board-on-board, 6 ft: $38–$55 per linear foot

On a 150-foot residential fence, pine saves you roughly $1,500–$2,500 up front. The long-term math reverses: a pine fence rebuilt at year 13 doubles your lifetime cost, while the cedar fence is still standing. Total cost-per-year usually favors cedar unless you know you're moving in 5–8 years.

Look

Cedar is a warm honey-brown at install, weathering to silver-gray over 12–18 months if left unstained. With semi-transparent oil-based stain (re-coated every 2–3 years), it stays warm-brown for the life of the fence. Grain is tight, knots are small.

Pine starts greenish-yellow from the treatment chemicals and weathers to a muted gray over 18–24 months. Stainable, but the chemical treatment can affect color uptake. Grain is more open, knots are larger and more numerous. Side-by-side with cedar you'll see the difference.

Maintenance

Both materials want re-staining every 2–3 years to maintain color and slow UV damage. Cedar can be left unstained and weather naturally; pine looks rough if left untreated. The maintenance schedule is similar for both — the difference is what the wood looks like underneath when you skip a stain cycle.

How to pick

Decision rubric we use with clients:

Staying in the house 10+ years and care about the look: Cedar #1 grade, board-on-board or side-by-side depending on budget.
Selling within 5 years and need a clean fence to list: Either works. Cedar adds resale value; pine maximizes ROI on a flip.
Rental property or budget-driven build: Pine side-by-side. Note that the budget fence we build is white wood pine, not pressure-treated pine — it takes stain better and it goes up on the same 13-gauge heavy-duty steel posts as a cedar fence.
HOA requires "cedar appearance" or "wood": Read the bylaws — most HOAs require cedar specifically.

Want to see real installed examples? Browse our fence gallery (most of what's shown is cedar — pine looks similar but uglier in grain). Want city-specific permit details before you commit? See our Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, or Richardson permit guides.

Sources

Cedar properties: Western Red Cedar Lumber Association wrcla.org. Pressure-treated pine treatment specifications: American Wood Protection Association awpa.com. DFW pricing reflects Woodchuck Millwork installed estimates 2024–2025.