Pressure Treated Lumber is the best-priced option. This material is fabricated for exterior use. Chemicals are soaked in the wood to keep termites and moisture out. The raw materials are made to resist moisture and insects with out any sealant. We apply two coats of stain/sealant to all of our materials which adds a lot more life to the pressure treated lumber.
If you are currently dealing with an infestation and it is not too far along, it may be possible to salvage the material and refinish the wood.
Redwood also provides protection against insects. Some Redwood is better protection than others.
BEST Protection : Conheart Redwood has natural oils that keeps insects away. This type of lumber is the center portion of the redwood tree and will add cost to your budget. Just like anything, you get what you pay for. Spend more in the beginning and you get a longer lasting product.
MEDIUM Protection: Our most common wood for a beautiful finish. Clear Redwood is the selected portion of the tree that does not have knots in it. This wood is dry and the best type of wood for a slick finishes on our Designer Fence and HD fencing categories.
MEDIUM Protection: Common Redwood (used in our Mid-Range Fence category - just to let you know, Clear Redwood is also common redwood, just dried out and selected lumber without knots) These are the standard 1 x 6 fence boards providing a much rougher finish. These boards are also contain moisture and will shrink after installation.