Viking is the only fence company in Austin, Texas with its own remanufacturing facility where we can resaw and custom cut your fence project to your specifications. We are the only company with specific fence picket grades produced to our specifications. We have a picket for each price/point and use.

Red Cedar

Red Cedar requires no chemical treatment or kiln drying, so it has a much lower carbon footprint and environmental impact than inferior materials like pine, spruce and fir. You can build your fence of this top-quality material and feel good about its effect on nature and your neighbors.

Stability

Like all woods, Red Cedar is hygroscopic and will absorb or discharge moisture to attain equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere. However, it has a very low shrinkage factor and is superior to all other coniferous woods in its resistance to warping, twisting and checking.

Decay and Termite Resistance

One of Red Cedar’s most valuable characteristics is its well-known high resistance to decay. It is one of the most durable coniferous species and can be counted on to give long and trouble free service under most conditions. Cedar’s decay resistance comes from the presence of naturally occurring fungicidal compounds in the wood called thujaplicins. Another extractive present in the wood, thujic acid, helps make the wood resistant to insect attack. Red Cedar is “non-preferred” i.e., the termites will not eat red cedar if they have access to other wood species with less resistance.

Attractive Finish & Workability

Red Cedar’s attractive red color has long been one it’s most popular aesthetic features. As it ages, the red tone will turn to an attractive light gray color. Alternatively, Red Cedar can be stained if achieving a consistent color is the desired effect. The wood takes a variety of coatings, paint and stain, exceptionally well, when dried and properly primed. The wood is among the easiest to work with because of its straight grain and uniform texture.

Cedar Variations

Occasionally, Viking will offer inland cedar, a sub-species of Red Cedar, which grows primarily in Vancouver, Washington state and Idaho, as well as incense cedar, which is grown primarily in California, Oregon and Washington state. The primary difference in these boards vs. Red Cedar is the color of the board. There is less iron in the soil where these trees are grown. As a result, the color of the board is less “red” in nature. Ask our estimators for current availability.

Fence and Picket Styles

Viking offers the following board varieties (straight, dog-ear, French-gothic, gothic) in 4, 6 and 8 foot lengths (ask your estimator for a quote on custom lengths), in various grades. Viking furnishes and installs all types of cedar wood fences (privacy, semi privacy, shadow-box, horizontal, custom), from the most basic of privacy wood fences to finely crafted custom wood fences. Please browse our idea gallery of recent cedar wood fence projects.

Better Quality

The majority of the industry has transitioned to a 5/8″ thick fence picket… 1/2” thick in some cases. Not Viking. Our supply of raw material is as secure as ever and we’ll continue to mill a true ¾” and sometimes a 7/8” thick fence picket for our customers. We’re also, the only fence company in Texas to also offer a 5/4″ fence board (on a custom order basis)

Naturally Decay Resistant

Red Cedar requires no chemical treatment or kiln drying, so it has a much lower carbon footprint and environmental impact than inferior materials like pine, spruce and fir.

Renewable

Red Cedar’s growth is limited to British Columbia (B.C.). Only 1% of B.C.’s cedar growing stock is harvested each year, according to the Ministry of Forests, and soon after logging, public lands must be reforested with species suited to the site. The Red Cedar Lumber Association estimates that three trees are planted for each that is harvested.