Red oak for fence boards

[buzywoodliff]

I know white oak holds up better outdoors, but how long would you all expect red oak to last as fence boards.... And any input on coatings is appreciated.
( it'll be for some friend's horses and we're in michigan )

Thanks

[beenthere]

Here is a pic of the red oak board (1x6) fence I put up in 1965.. The boards are weathered, and some sections are down because the white oak 4x4 fence posts gave up at the ground line.
Didn't expect 50 years out of it.


 

[drobertson]

I've seen them last for years as well, not sure about the treating, there was a place up the road that treated oak,  they since have gone under.

[mesquite buckeye]

Once they dry out you can paint them occasionally with cuprinol (copper napthenate). Good stuff, kills bugs and fungus, not very toxic once dry and lasts a long time. Put it on heavy wherever one piece of wood meets another. That is where rot hits first. ;D 8) 8) 8)

[buzywoodliff]

Thanks for the input.... Sounds like I'll be sawing some fence boards!!

[Banjo picker]

I have been kind of waiting on this topic to surface.  When I built the fence for the back yard, I run out of white oak 30 feet before I could finish.  I can't vouch for exactly how old the fence is but from checking the dates on the forum gallery it is at least 5 years old, as it was complete by nov 28 of 2010.  Here is a pict. of several sections, can you tell which are red and which are white?   

  ...Pay no attention to the small boards stuck in the fence, those are tomato stakes.   :D :D

Here is a section of white.

 

Here is section of red.

 

I surely cant tell the difference by just looking, but some probably can, but here is the difference.....Here is the white at the bottom where the ground contacts:

     Not much if any noticeable rot. 

Now check out the red oak:

     You can definitely see the degrade setting in.  I will have to replace them or at least the bottom foot or so before too long.  So it appears if you keep the fence totally off the ground as shown in beenthere's horizontal fence you will be ok....but don't let the red get even near the ground as shown in my vertical fence.  Have a great day.   Banjo

[Magicman]

That is a very nice comparison Tim. 

[Banjo picker]

Thanks Lynn... When i built the fence
I wanted to build each 10 ft. section out of different species of wood we have here on the place for a comparison,if you will.  i though that would be really neat, but my bride didn't think so much of my research project.  At least i got to compare red and white oak.   i have had several folks ask about using pine or hickory for fence.  it would be good to say ....do you want to see some samples.... 8) 8)   Banjo

[Magicman]

I have sawed wall paneling for many customers that wanted a different species in each room.  It is quite a common request.

[woodmills1]

Most of the horse fence I cut is red, we much more of it here.  Also, the fence I cut is 3 or 4 rail horizontal, none near the ground, and the post are pressure treated.  Some use pine, but the horses chew on it the they break when they get pushed by the critters.

[reswire]

Once they dry out you can paint them occasionally with cuprinol (copper napthenate). Good stuff, kills bugs and fungus, not very toxic once dry and lasts a long time. Put it on heavy wherever one piece of wood meets another. That is where rot hits first. ;D 8) 8) 8)

Cuprinol is the stuff we used when I was a kid.  Great stuff.  My father built a walk way out of rough lumber treated with Cuprinol.  It lasted 40 years, much to everyone's surprise.  Where can you buy it now?  I thought it had been banned.

[mesquite buckeye]

Home Depot sells it. Just not that brand. Look in the wood preservatives for oil based copper napthanate. It is in the list of ingredients. It's something like $20 a gallon. ;D 8) 8) 8)

[reswire]

Im building an addition to my mill shed, and am considering white oak posts, treated with cuprinol.  Any thoughts?  I need it to last 20 plus years......

[ForestGump]

Any rough ideas on life expectancy of cedar posts vs white oak vs store bought treated 4x4?

[Brad_S.]

 I have been unable to find store-bought 4 x 4 rated to withstand ground contact.   The smallest size I could find was 4 x 6. The 4 x 4's that you buy at the big box stores are not designed to be buried.

[gspren]

   A friend bought "landscape timbers" 2 sides flat, 2 rounded, and they rotted in less than 5 years. We think they were just sprayed with some green food coloring.

[reswire]

I found wood preservative with copper additive at Home Depot like was mentioned.  Only problem is it's a non stock item, and takes 10 days to deliver.  Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait a little longer.....
Good thing it is only 85 bucks for five gallons.