How much does cedar privacy fencing shrink?
 

Obviously freshly cut several weeks ago, kept in my garage, then on my back deck a week or so gettin' humid :). So I butted them together, with screws, in a couple of days...1/8" gap...make it stop ;). Should I lay these remaining planks out & bake on my deck....before installing....or not, due to warping, etc. I was picky as I went through the stock....and kept them all "true".... if that's all they're gonna shrink....I'm good....don't want huge gaps though....

I've never used cedar before.....same shrinkage as pine crap or whatever the typical stuff is?

If you shrink them (let them dry) then screw them tight, no gap, you will not be happy when the moisture content goes back up and they buckle.

^^^^ Yep....really depends upon how long it's cured a bit I suppose. I was shocked at the gap after just a couple of days...just getting started...so I asked. 1/8 (as is) will be fine....don't want larger....walkin' the line ;). One fence I did years ago...I spaced them with a nail and the gaps ended up huge.....arg :(.

Meebe I should hire a guy...that ain't so picky....but I'm too picky....it's a curse ;).

https://images.homedepot-static.com/...15-64_1000.jpg

Stretches 600% for a crackproof finish.....Seals joints up to 3 in.

;) SmileWavy

If you want to get all scientific about it, you can measure the moisture content as it sits and estimate the moisture content it will eventually achieve in your particular climate and calculate the shrinkage. You won’t have a meter to measure the moisture, but you could buy one, if you were so inclined. Most likely you could install them fairly snug now, as I suspect that the moisture content will never be higher than it is now. In any event an 8th inch or 3/16 inch gap is nothing, when you’re viewing the fence from 50 feet away.

That's exactly what I use for 2" gaps in tile....much better than grout imo :)

JR....I have "issues" ;) ...the little section I put up (gate, etc.) look great w/ 1/8" gaps....I'm standing 12" away...need to redo the gate a bit....then proceed. So I axed....

Thanks all...especially the caulk tip!

You don’t caulk a fence, but you probably know that...

As long as the gaps are uniform, you shouldn’t give two craps about what the number is.

I'm going with caulk....

I'm in the process of taking them off the gate (need to tweek it a bit anyways, wouldn't otherwise)....looks great. I can close those 1/8" a bit...mebbe....I think....just askn'?

These are really not long runs 25' & mebbe half that on the other side....blocking back from the street/lights/cars etc. out front....paradise out back...acres of it....so dawgy likes :)

Yeah....I know....but just can't help myself...thanks!

just what exactly are you doing behind that fence that requires so much privacy mister? ;)
Never mind, don't wanna know.

Nuthin'....cars lights bugged me leanin' against the back rail facing forward last nght. Didn't sleep at all last night...like when yer switch/outlet cover plate screws don't all align straight up & down. Some of y'all might understand....it's a sickness I tell ya ;)

I'm gonna sleep goooood tonight :)

I file off the slots of all the screws so that problem doesn't come up no more.

Dayum....another sleepless night....YOU SUCK!

I get it, but the slots are supposed to be horizontal, not vertical. SmileWavy

I was kidding about the caulk, but that's pretty good stuff.

Here's a few more to drive you nuts.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1556579758.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1556579775.jpg

I changed my heretic ways when another Pelican pointed out they collect dust horisontally. Now I don't know if he was right...but it just seemed logical, so out came the screwdriver!

Dust? You have dust in your house?

omg.....

2% per 10 degrees over 80F per month...Decreases by .0008% week after that......Rough estimate....

My cedar fence has been up for two years and each picket has shrunk about 1/4” (1/8” per side) which means a quarter inch gap between boards. Just the nature of wood.

^^^^ Well since Sammy had me up filing screws....I decided to go pound on my neighbor's front door at 1am....with my other neighbor's alpha GSD at my side....the one's that called the popo Sammy ;).

I figured if it gaps to 1/8" in less than 2 days baking...those I repositioned butted together today will end that way. I'll "cure" the rest unstacked for a day or so....

Thanks guys!

I've got screws to file....but methinks the neighbor's might need another alpha instead of me....I LOVE GSDs....and lab pups.....to show them the way to get along with the 'hood...I think we made progress....

woof!

Too rough with other variables...starting point...some rain, etc. These gate boards were butted together one day...1/8" the next. I wanna be a cashier....so I don't do math these daze :)

Can you place a board over each seam ? I think it's called shadow box ? No light will be getting through that .

^^^^ sure it it was gonna be an issue....now that my faceplate screws are smooth....1/8" is cool....methinks the neighbors & I will be also...

woof, woof!

....dawg packs are amazing....I know ;)

I did just that years ago....sis has the same sickness :)

At least you don't have to watch and read all the credits after a movie, even if it means pausing and rewinding a few times.
After 27 years the wife is almost use to that.

Or do you …

The last movie I saw in a Theater I sure did....we all did....haven't seen but a few movies even on DVD, etc. Music stuff excepted....

That was back when JL's Imagine doc was released...

Give peace a chance... :)

woo...

1) Water the fence. Drip irrigation across the top, with humidity sensors so it doesn't shrink.
2) Until we resolve the screw-plate issue, I suggest screwless covers.

I have rocker light switches in most of the house. The one in the kitchen for the main lights is reversed, IOW it turns off the lights when it should turn them on.
And that's on porpoise.
When we open the pantry doors all the way, one of em can hit the rocker switch.
If the lights are off it will turn them on, and that's OK.
If it were the other way around it would turn the lights off when we didn't want then off, and that would not be OK.

But it's still hard to get used to.

^^^^ I AM impressed....were you awake all night because of my fence gaps too? The only internet site I need PPOT....awesome suggestion #1, but have you considered the excess caulk I might have applied as preventive maintenance?

I have a big azz oak tree teetering....pro cut the wedge out and is 2 minutes from dropping it....if the mama 'coon and her babies have vacated since yesterday....we were in total agreement...

Karma...

Nope. Fence gaps are good.
1/4" is exactly what they should be and you are well on your way to get there. ;)

What direction is that tree gonna fall?
What direction is the wind blowing?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1556638662.jpg

^^^^ Perfectly parallel 3.25 gaps filled with caulk....I axed some engineers :)!

LOL @ the pic....I didn't see it last night.....sleepin' like a small dawg :)

Sometimes you will get one plank that doesn't shrink like the others.

https://i.imgur.com/SGG4zHM.jpg