> Is it necessary or prefered that boards be planned on both sides before
> they are cut for strips ? Most of the cedar at the local lumber yards is
> intended for fencing and is either roof sawn on one or both sides. Since
> they will be coved and beaded I assume (there's that word again ) that
> rough sawn is ok.

As you assume, rough sawn is fine. Roof sawn is, I assume,(there's your word again) a typo.

The rough sawn wood is frequently sold a bit thicker than planed lumber. If a planed 1x6 is 3/4 inches thick, a rough sawn one might be 7/8ths thick.

If you don't go the bead and cove route you can square up the rough edges of the strips with your table saw, in the same manner that you ripped the strips from the boards. Or you can use many other tools: a jointer, a router, a shaper, a drum sander, a belt sander, etc.

Hope this helps.

Paul G. Jacobson