Fencing · 25 cities

How a wood fence ages across the US

Same boards, different weather. In our model, a wood fence lasts 10–13 years in Mobile, AL and 17–21 years in Las Vegas, NV; the national typical range is 15–20 yrs.

Simulated wood fence in Seattle, WA after 10 years
Year 10Decay starting where boards meet the ground, heavy mildew, surface checks
MODEL SIMULATION
Seattle, WA · cedar pickets on wood posts, no stain
Color lossSevere
Surface checkingHigh
Mildew / rotHigh
Fails first herePost bases and picket bottoms

Every city

Expected life by city

Sorted shortest-lived first. Untreated, south-facing, full sun.

CityYear 10Expected lifeMain threatClimate profileDecay index
Mobile, AL10–13 yrsMoisture & decayHot & humid110.2
Miami, FL10–13 yrsMoisture & decayHot & humid155.8
Tampa, FL10–13 yrsMoisture & decayHot & humid103.6
New Orleans, LA11–14 yrsMoisture & decayHot & humid100.9
Atlanta, GA11–15 yrsMoisture & decayMixed79.5
Houston, TX12–15 yrsMoisture & decayHot & humid84.5
Nashville, TN12–15 yrsMoisture & decayMixed70.7
Charleston, SC12–16 yrsMoisture & decayHot & humid73.7
Portland, OR13–17 yrsMoisture & decayCool & damp56.6
Denver, CO13–17 yrsFreeze–thawCold, hard freeze–thaw34.2
Austin, TX13–17 yrsSun & UVMixed53.9
Chicago, IL13–17 yrsMoisture & decayMixed55.3
Minneapolis, MN13–17 yrsFreeze–thawMixed47.2
Buffalo, NY13–17 yrsFreeze–thawMixed52.8
New York, NY13–17 yrsMoisture & decayCool & damp59.5
Boston, MA13–17 yrsFreeze–thawMixed48.3
Seattle, WA14–18 yrsMoisture & decayCool & damp52.6
Albuquerque, NM14–18 yrsSun & UVDry & sunny22.2
Salt Lake City, UT14–18 yrsFreeze–thawCold, hard freeze–thaw23.3
Dallas, TX14–18 yrsSun & UVMixed47.4
San Francisco, CA15–20 yrsSun & UVCool & damp26.7
Los Angeles, CA16–21 yrsSun & UVHot & dry8.5
San Diego, CA16–21 yrsSun & UVHot & dry12
Phoenix, AZ16–21 yrsSun & UVHot & dry7.2
Las Vegas, NV17–21 yrsSun & UVHot & dry0.4

Model estimates from 1991–2020 climate normals. Methodology.

Other materials

Cedar deck →Composite deck →