Redwood Fence Installation in Galveston County, TX

Old growth vs young growth: the one question to ask

The USDA Forest Products Laboratory groups woods by how well their heartwood resists decay, and redwood is the one common fence species the handbook splits into two separate ratings:

• Old-growth redwood heartwood is grouped as resistant — the same tier as cedar.
• Young-growth (second-growth) redwood heartwood is grouped one tier lower, as moderately resistant.

The handbook explains what either rating means in practice: resistant heartwood generally gives satisfactory service above ground, and only very resistant heartwood generally performs in contact with the ground — so neither grade of redwood heartwood is rated for direct ground contact. The handbook also warns that resistance can run lower in warm, humid climates like ours. We don’t have a verified source for which grade any particular supplier stocks, so the honest step is to ask before you buy: a plan or quote that just says “redwood” hasn’t told you which tier you’re getting.

As with any species, untreated sapwood (the pale outer band of the log) has low decay resistance regardless of grade. The same rule applies to every species on the wood fence guide.

How much a redwood fence moves

Wood shrinks across its width as it dries, which is why gaps can open in a new privacy fence. The USDA Wood Handbook’s Table 4-3 gives redwood’s width (tangential) shrinkage, green to oven-dry, as:

• Old growth: about 4.4%
• Young growth: about 4.9%

Both are less than the southern pines (about 7.4–7.7%) and close to western redcedar (about 5.0%). A butted privacy fence can still open small gaps as the boards dry; board-on-board stays private as they shrink. For the arithmetic on sizing those gaps, see sizing gaps for wood movement (the method is the same for any species — only the percentage changes).

Finishing redwood on the coast

Redwood doesn’t need a finish to resist decay — that comes from the heartwood grade. A finish is about looks and weathering, and the USDA Wood Handbook has specific, sourced guidance for redwood:

• Paint performs well on it. Redwood is lower density with no wide latewood bands, which the handbook says gives “excellent paint performance” (the same reason western redcedar and white pine take paint well).
• Expect extractive bleed under paint. Redwood’s water-soluble extractives are a classic cause of discoloration under a finish, especially over knots. The handbook calls for a stain-blocking primer first.
• Service life is modest either way. The handbook’s Table 16-2 rates “cedar and redwood” siding: a semitransparent stain at moderate suitability and 2–4 years; paint at moderate suitability and 8–12 years; solid-color stain around 6–10 years.

See stain vs paint, how often to restain, and our staining and sealing service.

From estimate to finished redwood fence

1. Free on-site estimate. We walk and measure the line with you, and note gates, slopes, trees, drainage and any old fence that has to come out.
2. Spec and a written price. The price covers the redwood grade, height, style, posts, rot board, gates, fasteners and any finish. Use the checker above to read it.
3. Property line and permits. Know where your line is before posts go in. A survey is the reliable way. Check the city permit and any HOA rules.
4. Installation. Posts first, then rails, rot board, pickets, cap and gates.
5. Walkthrough. Check that the gates swing and latch, and agree when the redwood can take a finish.

What affects the cost of a redwood fence

You get a written price after the free on-site visit. The main things that move it:

• Grade. Old-growth, all-heartwood redwood is scarcer and costs more than young-growth or mixed-grade stock.
• Length and height. An 8 ft fence uses longer boards and posts than a 6 ft one.
• Posts and hardware. Treated wood or galvanized steel posts, and stainless or hot-dip fasteners.
• Gates, finish and site work. Each gate adds framing and hardware. A paint or stain finish adds labor. Removing an old fence, slopes and clearing all add time.

See wood fence cost per foot. Financing is available through the providers on our financing page, subject to credit approval.

Questions we get about this