Wood Fence Industry Rose to the Challenge of the COVID Years

Historically, the fence industry has had specialty niches when it comes to wood material. Contractors typically like a certain product and that’s what they choose to build their wood fences with. The COVID pandemic resulted in many challenges to the industry, most significantly, the disruption of the supply chain. This had a huge impact on contractors’ ability to secure the wood fencing products they normally used. As a result, the fencing community was forced to think outside of the box, adapt and adjust, leaving behind their established approach to delivering projects, and working with what was available to get the job done. Not only were they sourcing western red cedar, but also imported cedar, Alaskan yellow cedar, Douglas fir, incense cedar, treated pine, whitewood, and more. Anything available was being used in order to satisfy the insatiable fence demand throughout the country resulting from stay-at-home orders during the pandemic.

“The fence industry was forced to get creative, and we rose to the occasion,” says Jessica Ammons, National Wood Product Manager for Fencing Supply Group. “All these different species were welcomed in markets where for years we thought they would not be accepted. Products that were counted out were now providing fencers an opportunity – and ability – to install a fence during a time where finding wood products was extremely difficult. It also helped fence contractors not only survive, but thrive, during this time of economic uncertainty for businesses across all industries.”

As the end of 2022 approaches, wood fencing has become much more available, which naturally leads to the question: What happens to these product options fencers have relied on so heavily during their time of need? The short answer, according to Ammons, is nothing. She says the wood fence market has become more diversified with options. ”It’s a great silver lining to the challenges of the past two years. Many fence distributors are now providing multiple wood fence species for all price points. The COVID years gave the fence community a chance to try new products and test their performance, giving them a whole new range of options to offer to their customers. This opportunity to provide multiple wood fence options for a variety of applications will allow installers to diversify their clientele and enter new segments of the industry.”

This species diversification with the good, better, best mentality could not have happened at a better time now that the wood market is starting to soften. “This has given the consumer confidence in using a broader range of species they would have been skeptical to install in the past,” says Douglas Himes, Binford Supply distribution manager. “The wood fence industry, more specifically its installers, has become more resilient due to the supply challenges experienced during COVID and is now better prepared to deal with supply challenges in the future.” Himes says it is clear with the price fluctuations of fence materials that many will revert to using a specific species such as western red cedar, but they are now able to offer alternative fence solutions. “Fencing as we know it will forever be changed after the COVID years,” he adds, “and this industry has proven they can roll with the changes and learn from the past.”

Contact your local Fencing Supply Group location to learn more about wood fencing options at www.fencingsupplygroup.com.