Cedar Slats

Cedar Slats for Fencing in Ireland

Western Red Cedar is the timber most often chosen for high end slatted fencing, and for good reason. Its natural oils make it Durability Class 2, resistant to rot, insect attack and fungal decay without chemical treatment. Our cedar slats are graded Clear Heart Vertical Grain, the highest commercial grade, so the grain is straight and tight with very few knots and a fence looks calm and even along its whole length.

At around 380 kg/m³, cedar is exceptionally light. One person can handle long slats, the load on your posts stays low, and the boards cut cleanly and plane to a fine finish.

Cedar slat sizes

Cedar slats are often ordered by their old imperial names, so a “2×1” is roughly 2 inches by 1 inch. What you receive is the planed size in millimetres. Every size is 18 mm thick with an ease edge, meaning the long edges are slightly rounded:

• 2×1 (44×18 mm): narrow slats for a fine, modern screen with lots of shadow lines. You need more slats and more screws per metre, but the finished fence has the finest texture.
• 4×1 (94×18 mm): the classic fence slat, quicker to fix and more private.
• 6×1 (144×18 mm): a wide board for a bolder look and more solid screening.
• 8×1 (194×18 mm): the widest slat, for near solid privacy with a clean finish.

Mixing widths, such as alternating 44 mm and 94 mm slats, gives a fence a designed look. Choose the length on the product page; longer slats mean fewer joints on long runs, so measure the run first and pick the length that leaves the least offcut. Enter your area in the calculator on the product page and it works out how many you need; the cart adds the fixings and extras.

Cedar slats vs other timber slats

Cedar gives you the finest finish and the widest choice of sizes in our timber slats range. If you are comparing:

• Larch slats: denser larch with a reddish-brown tone, in 44 mm and 94 mm widths.
• Ecowood slats: our value softwood, in 44 mm, 94 mm and 140 mm widths.
• MicroShades slats: factory finished, so there is nothing to do on site.

Building a cedar slatted fence

Cedar is easy to work, and a few details make the difference:

• Fix horizontal slats straight to the posts, or add rails between the posts for vertical slats.
• Use stainless steel screws only. Galvanised or mild steel reacts with cedar’s natural tannins and leaves dark stains.
• Pre-drill near the ends, and use a spacer block so every gap is the same.

The same boards are sold as cedar battens for cladding garden walls and building screens around bin stores and oil tanks.

Looking after cedar slats

Cedar doesn’t need treating to last, but left bare it weathers to silver grey over 12 to 18 months. Most people oil it within the first few months to keep the warm honey-brown colour, then refresh it each year or two. Use a penetrating oil made for cedar from our exterior oils and stains. Avoid paint and varnish, because cedar’s oily surface makes them flake.

Prefer a ready-made screen? Compare our timber fence panels, or browse all our garden fence panels, with the gates and accessories to finish the job.