What grade of Western Red Cedar should I use for fencing in Vancouver?

For most residential fences in Metro Vancouver, #2 Common or STK (Select Tight Knot) grade Western Red Cedar offers the best balance of appearance, durability, and value. Higher grades like Clear or Select exist but cost significantly more and are typically reserved for premium custom builds or front-facing feature fences where a flawless appearance justifies the investment.

Understanding cedar grading helps you make a smart decision at the lumber yard. Clear grade is the top tier — no knots, consistent colour, straight grain, and the most visually appealing. It's also the most expensive, running $4 to $7 per linear foot for 1x6 boards at Metro Vancouver lumber suppliers. Clear cedar is ideal for horizontal modern fences where every board is visible and imperfections stand out, or for front yard fences on upscale homes in neighbourhoods like Shaughnessy, Kerrisdale, or West Vancouver. Select grade allows a few small, tight knots and minor character marks. It looks nearly as clean as Clear but costs 15 to 25% less, typically $3.50 to $5.50 per linear foot for 1x6 boards.

STK (Select Tight Knot) grade is the workhorse of cedar fencing in Metro Vancouver and what most experienced fence contractors recommend for standard privacy fences. STK allows tight knots (knots that are firmly embedded and won't fall out) throughout the board, giving the fence a natural, rustic character. The knots don't compromise structural integrity or rot resistance — they're part of the heartwood and carry the same natural oils that make cedar durable. STK 1x6 boards run $2.50 to $4 per linear foot at Lower Mainland suppliers, making it roughly half the cost of Clear grade for virtually the same performance and longevity.

#2 Common grade is a step below STK, allowing larger knots, some loose knots, and more variation in colour and grain. It's the most affordable cedar option at $1.75 to $3 per linear foot for 1x6 boards. For a rear yard privacy fence that will be stained a solid colour, #2 Common is a perfectly reasonable choice — the stain hides the cosmetic imperfections while the cedar's natural rot resistance still protects against Vancouver's moisture. However, sort through the pile carefully and reject boards with loose knots (they'll fall out over time, leaving holes), significant wane (bark edge), or heavy sapwood content (the lighter-coloured outer wood that lacks cedar's natural rot resistance).

The grade you choose matters less than ensuring you're getting heartwood, not sapwood. Cedar heartwood is the darker, reddish-brown inner wood that contains the natural thujaplicins — the oils and compounds that make Western Red Cedar naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insects. Sapwood is the lighter, almost white outer wood that has virtually no rot resistance and will deteriorate quickly in Metro Vancouver's wet marine climate. Even in lower grades, look for boards that are predominantly heartwood. A #2 Common heartwood board will outlast a Clear sapwood board by years in Vancouver's rain.

For a typical 100-linear-foot cedar privacy fence at 6 feet tall, the grade choice affects your total material cost significantly. Using Clear grade, cedar boards alone cost approximately $2,400 to $4,200. Using STK grade, that drops to $1,500 to $2,400. Using #2 Common, you're looking at $1,050 to $1,800. When you add posts, rails, concrete, fasteners, and labour, the total installed cost ranges from about $40 to $80 per linear foot — and the grade of cedar is one of the biggest variables in that range.

My recommendation for most Metro Vancouver homeowners: go with STK grade for side and rear fences, and consider upgrading to Select or Clear for front-facing sections or modern horizontal designs. Apply a quality semi-transparent stain within 3 to 6 months of installation, and re-stain every 2 to 3 years — this maintenance schedule matters far more for longevity than the grade of cedar you choose. Need help finding a fence contractor who knows their cedar grades? Vancouver Fence Builders can match you with experienced local professionals for free.

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