Had to choose between cedar and composite for a big job in Tampa, went with cedar to keep the client happy, and now I'm dealing with warped boards after just one rainy season.

Client insisted on the 'real wood look' even after I showed them the maintenance schedule, so we used 6-foot cedar pickets, and now half of them are cupping so bad you can see daylight between the slats.

4 comments

4 Comments

mianelson3mo ago

Our Tampa crew switched to 5/4 cedar for the next one.

evahenderson2mo ago

Is it really that big of a deal if they warp a little?

ivan7743mo ago

Wait, you used regular pickets for a big job in Tampa? Honestly, that's asking for trouble with our humidity. Tbh I'm shocked they warped that fast, but six foot pickets have almost no chance down here. You gotta go with the thicker stuff or it just bends like crazy. Ngl the client might want the look but they won't like those gaps.

reesej273mo ago

Man, the real problem is nobody talks about how you install it. You can use the best cedar in the world, but if you nail it up tight when it's bone dry, it's gonna swell and warp when the rain hits. Those boards need room to move. I bet the fasteners are holding them in a death grip right now.