Rot Resistance

• Cedar and treated lumber both offer rot resistance, but treated lumber provides many more year of resistance than cedar wood products. You should not use cedar lumber for an application that touches the ground surface or that is buried because the constant moisture contact will rot the wood within a few years. Treated lumber is pressure treated with chemicals which makes it repel water and resistant to rot. Cedar lumber used above the ground offers a moderate life depending on the climate and humidity levels, with dry climates being ideal.
  
  

Price

• The prices of cedar and treated lumber vary by region, season and grade of lumber. Cedar lumber normally runs at a premium compared with treated lumber, because the cedar wood is rarer than the pine used for treated lumber. Pine trees are far more prevalent for lumber production throughout the Unites States. The lifetime cost of cedar is much higher than treated lumber due to customers having to replace the cedar much sooner.
  
  

Availability

• Treated lumber is far more prevalent in American home improvement stores and local building supply companies than cedar lumber due to its lower cost and universal applications. You will find a wealth of treated lumber products, including standard lumber, decking, fence posts and specialty deck products such as railings and spindles. You will find cedar in most building stores, but in a much smaller selection than standard or treated lumber.
  
  

Finishing

• Finishing wood on an outdoor project is essential to keep it looking new, prevent fading and drying out from the sun. You can stain and paint both cedar and treated lumber with treated lumber being naturally waterproof. It is critical that you treat a cedar fence with a water-proofing agent annually to prevent rotting. Cedar wood has more of a pronounced wood grain that is ideal for a natural or lightly stained look. Treated lumber has a yellowish-green color from the chemical treatment that prevents it from having a light finish. Treated lumber is ideal for painted finishes or a dark stain.