Best Fencing CharlotteWood fencing remains the most popular choice for Charlotte homeowners, and for good reason. It looks great, provides solid privacy, and fits most budgets. But once you decide on wood, you hit the next question: cedar or pressure-treated pine? Both are solid options, and both get installed across the Charlotte metro every single day. The right pick depends on your budget, your priorities, and how much maintenance you are willing to do over the years.
Below is a straight comparison of both materials so you can make an informed decision before calling a Charlotte wood fence installer.
Cost Comparison: Cedar vs. Pressure-Treated Pine
Most homeowners start right here, and the gap is real. Pressure-treated pine is significantly cheaper than cedar, and on a 200-foot fence run, that difference adds up fast.
- Cedar fencing: $25 - $35 per linear foot installed
- Pressure-treated pine fencing: $18 - $28 per linear foot installed
For a typical Charlotte backyard with 150 to 200 linear feet of fencing, that means cedar will run roughly $3,750 to $7,000, while pressure-treated pine comes in around $2,700 to $5,600. On the low end, the difference might be about $1,000. On the high end, you could be looking at $1,500 to $2,000 more for cedar. For a full breakdown of fencing costs across all materials, check our Charlotte fence cost guide.
The price difference comes down to supply. Pressure-treated southern yellow pine is abundant in the Southeast. It grows fast, mills easily, and the treatment process is efficient. Cedar, on the other hand, mostly comes from the Pacific Northwest or Canada. Shipping costs alone add a premium before the lumber even reaches a Charlotte lumberyard.
Appearance: How They Look When New and Over Time
Fresh cedar has a warm, reddish-brown tone with visible grain patterns that most people find more attractive than pine. It has a natural beauty that makes it a standout material for front-yard fences or any area where curb appeal matters. Cedar also has a pleasant, distinctive smell when freshly cut -- something any Charlotte fence installer will confirm.
Pressure-treated pine, by contrast, comes off the lumber truck with a greenish tint. That color comes from the copper-based preservatives (ACQ or MCA) forced into the wood during the treatment process. The green fades within a few months to a dull gray-brown, which is fine if you plan to stain it, but not great if you were hoping for a natural look out of the gate.
Now, what happens over time. Left unstained, cedar weathers to a silvery gray. Many homeowners in neighborhoods like Dilworth, Myers Park, and Plaza Midwood actually prefer this weathered look -- it gives the fence a natural, aged appearance that fits well with older homes. Pressure-treated pine also turns gray if left alone, but the graying tends to look less uniform and more like neglect than character.
If you plan to stain your fence (which you should -- more on that below), both woods accept stain well. Pine actually absorbs stain more readily because of its more porous structure, though you need to wait 3 to 6 months after installation for the treatment chemicals to dry out before applying stain.
Durability in Charlotte's Climate
Charlotte sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b/8a, with hot, humid summers, mild winters, and about 43 inches of rain per year. That climate is tough on wood. Moisture is the primary enemy of any wood fence in the Piedmont region, and both cedar and pine handle it differently.
Cedar has natural oils (thujaplicins) that make it resistant to moisture, rot, and decay. These oils are built into the wood at a cellular level, meaning the entire board has some protection, not just the surface. In Charlotte's climate, a cedar fence that receives basic care can last 15 to 20 years. Even without staining, cedar holds up reasonably well for 10 to 12 years before you start seeing significant deterioration.
Pressure-treated pine gets its durability from chemical preservatives forced deep into the wood under high pressure. The treatment is effective -- it makes pine highly resistant to rot, fungal decay, and termite damage. The wood itself is denser and harder than cedar, which makes it more resistant to dents and physical damage. However, pine is more prone to warping, twisting, and splitting as it dries out after installation. In Charlotte's cycle of wet and dry periods, this movement can be noticeable, especially in the first year.
Both materials are suitable for the Charlotte climate, but they fail in different ways. Cedar tends to soften and eventually rot at ground level if posts are not properly set. Pine tends to crack and warp, and if the treatment does not penetrate fully, you can get interior rot that is not visible until the board breaks.
Maintenance Requirements
And this is the part where the long-term cost picture changes. Cedar is lower-maintenance than pine, but neither material is maintenance-free if you want it to last. For detailed seasonal tips, see our fence maintenance guide for Charlotte homeowners.
Cedar maintenance: Cedar can be left to weather naturally if you like the gray look. If you want to preserve the original color, apply a UV-protective stain or sealant every 3 to 4 years. Cedar does not require staining to remain structurally sound -- the natural oils do that work. An annual inspection for loose boards, leaning posts, and ground-level rot is all the routine care it needs.
Pine maintenance: Pressure-treated pine needs staining or sealing every 2 to 3 years to maintain its appearance and keep moisture from penetrating beyond the treated layer. Without regular sealing, the wood grays unevenly, checks (develops surface cracks), and can start to rot at cut ends where the treatment did not fully penetrate. The staining schedule is not optional with pine the way it is with cedar. Skipping it shortens the fence's life significantly.
Over a 15-year period, the maintenance costs on a pine fence can add up to $1,500 to $3,000 in stain, sealer, and labor (if you hire someone to apply it). Cedar's maintenance costs over the same period are lower -- roughly $500 to $1,500 -- because you can stain less frequently or skip staining altogether.
Insect Resistance
Termites are a real concern in the Charlotte metro. The Piedmont region of North Carolina has moderate to heavy termite pressure, and subterranean termites are the most common species. Both cedar and treated pine offer protection, but through different mechanisms.
Cedar's natural oils act as an insect repellent. Termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-boring insects generally avoid cedar, though this resistance decreases as the wood ages and the oils diminish. After 10 to 15 years, cedar becomes more vulnerable.
Pressure-treated pine's chemical treatment makes it highly resistant to termites and other insects. The copper-based preservatives are toxic to wood-destroying organisms. This protection lasts as long as the treatment remains intact, which is typically the life of the wood.
For pure insect resistance, pressure-treated pine has the edge. But both materials perform well enough that termite damage to fencing is rare in the Charlotte area, especially if you keep the bottom of the fence from direct ground contact.
Environmental Considerations
If environmental impact matters to you, there are differences worth noting. Cedar is a natural product that does not require chemical treatment. It is biodegradable at end of life and can be disposed of or composted without concern about leaching chemicals into the soil.
Pressure-treated pine contains copper and other preservatives that can leach into surrounding soil, particularly when the wood is new. Modern ACQ and MCA treatments are significantly safer than the old CCA (chromated copper arsenate) formulas that were phased out for residential use in 2004, but they are not completely inert. If your fence borders a vegetable garden or a water feature, this is something to consider.
Treated pine also cannot be burned and must be disposed of at a proper waste facility, not in your backyard fire pit. Cedar has no such restrictions.
When Cedar Is Worth the Premium
Cedar makes the most sense in these situations:
- Front-facing fences where appearance matters most. The natural color and grain of cedar are hard to beat for curb appeal in Charlotte neighborhoods like Weddington, Ballantyne, and Huntersville.
- Homeowners who want low maintenance. If you do not want to stain every 2 to 3 years, cedar's ability to weather gracefully is a real advantage.
- Long-term value. If you plan to stay in your home for 10+ years, cedar's lower maintenance costs and longer lifespan often offset the higher upfront price.
- Smaller fence runs. On a 50 to 100-foot fence, the price difference between cedar and pine might only be $500 to $700, which is easier to absorb.
- Properties near gardens or natural areas. Cedar's chemical-free profile makes it a better choice when you want to avoid any risk of soil contamination.
When Pressure-Treated Pine Makes Sense
Pine is the right call in these scenarios:
- Budget-driven projects. When you have 200+ linear feet to fence and the budget is tight, the savings on pine can be $1,500 to $2,000 or more. That is meaningful money.
- Large property runs. Homeowners in areas like Mooresville, Fort Mill, and Matthews with bigger lots often choose pine for the sheer volume of fencing needed.
- Stained fences. If you plan to stain the fence a solid color anyway, cedar's natural beauty is hidden. A stained pine fence and a stained cedar fence look nearly identical.
- Areas with high termite pressure. Pine's chemical treatment provides more consistent, longer-lasting insect protection.
- Rental properties or short-term ownership. If you are fencing a rental or plan to sell within 5 years, the lower upfront cost of pine makes more financial sense.
Longevity Comparison: The 20-Year View
Take a look at how the two materials stack up over a 20-year period for a typical 175-linear-foot fence in the Charlotte area:
- Cedar: Initial cost of $4,375 to $6,125. Maintenance over 20 years: $500 to $1,500. May need minor repairs (individual boards, one or two posts) around years 12 to 15. Total 20-year cost: roughly $5,000 to $8,000.
- Pressure-treated pine: Initial cost of $3,150 to $4,900. Maintenance over 20 years: $1,500 to $3,000. Likely needs more significant repairs (warped boards, rotted posts) starting around years 8 to 12. May need partial replacement around years 12 to 15. Total 20-year cost: roughly $5,500 to $9,000.
The numbers tell an interesting story. Over 20 years, the total cost of ownership is often similar for both materials. Cedar costs more upfront but less in maintenance. Pine costs less upfront but demands more attention and money over time. In many cases, it is close to a wash.
Making Your Decision
There is no objectively wrong choice here. Both cedar and pressure-treated pine are proven materials that thousands of Charlotte homeowners use successfully. The decision usually comes down to three factors: your budget right now, how much maintenance you are willing to do, and how important the natural look is to you.
If you can afford the upfront premium and want less work over the years, go with cedar. If the budget is tight and you are comfortable staining every couple of years, pine will serve you well. Either way, the quality of the installation matters more than the wood species. A well-built pine fence will outlast a poorly installed cedar fence every time.
Talk to a few Charlotte wood fence contractors and get quotes for both materials. A good company will walk you through samples, explain the differences, and help you pick the right wood for your specific property and budget.
