Walk into any lumber yard and you’ll see cedar pickets at very different price points. The difference isn’t marketing — it’s grade. Understanding what grade actually means will save you money on some projects and disappointment on others.
What Grade Measures
Cedar grading looks at the number and size of knots, the straightness of the grain, the presence of wane (bark edge), and overall appearance. Higher grades have fewer, tighter knots and cleaner faces. Lower grades are structurally fine for many uses but show more character — and more variation from board to board.
Matching Grade to Project
- Front-yard and street-facing fences: a clearer grade pays off where appearance is the whole point.
- Backyard privacy fences: a standard picket grade is usually the sweet spot for look versus cost.
- Pergolas, patio covers, and anything overhead: choose material graded for the span and load, not just the look. Our team can help you spec beams and rafters correctly.
- Garden beds and utility projects: economy material often does the job fine.
Inspect Before You Buy — or Let Us Pull It
Grade sets expectations, but boards within a grade still vary. When you shop our Garland or Arlington yards you can look at the actual material going on your trailer. For delivered orders, tell us how the material will be used and we’ll pull stock accordingly — we’ve supplied DFW fence and deck builders for decades and we know what a picky customer expects to see.
Custom Milling for Odd Sizes
If your project calls for a profile or dimension that isn’t on the shelf, our milling capabilities can match material to your exact order. That’s especially useful for matching existing fence styles or historic trim profiles.
Ready to get started? Visit Dallas Cedar at 4233 Forest Lane in Garland or 2110 W Division St in Arlington, or call us to talk through your material list. We deliver across the DFW metroplex.