Real installed costs, realistic lifespans, and what our clay soil and Texas sun actually do to each material, from a crew that builds both.
Cedar costs roughly half as much up front and can last 15 to 20+ years if the posts are done right and you stain it every few years. Composite costs more up front, skips the staining, and the boards themselves typically outlast cedar, but a fence is only as good as its posts, and in North Texas clay that's true for both materials. Here's the honest breakdown.
What each one costs installed
*Cedar figures are our own published ranges for Rockwall & Royse City. Composite figures are typical market ranges, not a quote: composite pricing varies a lot by brand and system, so we price it per project. Height, gates, terrain and tear-out all move the number.
On a typical 150-ft backyard, that difference is real money: cedar usually lands between $6,500 and $10,000, while a comparable composite fence can run half again to double that. Composite's argument is that you buy back some of that gap over the years in stain you never have to apply.
How long each one actually lasts here
Cedar: with quality lumber, posts set in concrete and a stain every few years, a cedar privacy fence commonly lasts 15 to 20+ years in our area. Skip the maintenance and let sprinklers soak the bottom of the pickets, and it can look tired in half that time. Staining a cedar fence runs about $2$4 per square foot and dramatically extends its life, see our staining & restoration service .
Composite: composite boards resist rot and insects and won't gray out the way bare cedar does. Manufacturers commonly warranty the boards themselves for 25 years or more. The honest caveat: those warranties cover the boards, not the posts or the workmanship, and around here, fences fail at the posts long before good boards give up.
The equalizer: whichever material you pick, the lifespan question is mostly a post question. Proper depth, concrete footings, and (optionally) galvanized steel posts matter more than the picket material.
What North Texas does to a fence
Clay soil movement. Rockwall County sits on expansive Blackland Prairie clay that swells when it rains and shrinks hard in August. That constant movement is what heaves shallow posts and turns straight fences into leaning ones, and it doesn't care whether the pickets are cedar or composite. It's why we dig proper footings and set every post in concrete.
Sun exposure. Texas sun is brutal on anything that faces south or west. Unstained cedar grays and dries out fast, which is why staining isn't just cosmetic here. Composite holds its color far better long-term; most products fade slightly in their first season and then stabilize.
Written Scope
Planning this type of project?
Tell us your space, city, and timeline. We return a written scope with lump-sum pricing, no obligation.
Hard freezes. Freezes like February 2021 push frost into soil that's usually never frozen, and the freeze-thaw cycle works on any post that's set too shallow or has water pooling in the hole. Deep, properly drained concrete footings are the defense, again, for both materials.
Which one should you pick?
Cedar makes sense if you want the classic wood look, a lower upfront price, and easy repairs, a damaged cedar picket is a cheap swap, and staining every few years keeps it looking new. It's what most of our neighbors choose, and it's what we build most.
Composite makes sense if you plan to stay in the house long-term, never want to think about staining, and the upfront budget isn't the deciding factor. It's also worth a look if your HOA favors a uniform, low-maintenance appearance.
Either way, insist on the boring stuff: post depth, concrete, quality fasteners. That's what decides whether your fence is straight in year ten.
Ready to compare numbers for your actual yard? See our fence installation service or request a free written estimate, we'll price both options honestly.
Want real numbers for your yard?
Free written estimate, usually the same day, cedar or composite.
About the author
Yelp
i30 Builders Editorial Team
AuthorEditorial and Field Operations
Internal content and field documentation team
i30 Builders Field Leadership
Expert ReviewerFounder-Led Field Operations
General contractor, field project management