Red Cedar

Choosing a favorite quality of Western Red Cedar is like trying to decide a favorite flavor of ice cream. Start with the basics like vanilla and chocolate, and the choices multiply from there. So it is with Western Red Cedar.

As one of North America's most durable woods, it lasts for decades and even centuries. Light in weight, uniformly textured, straight-grained and containing no resin, Western Red Cedar is easy to work with, and can be applied to a variety of uses.

It is a favorite material of architects and builders, but they may not agree on why. With Western Red Cedar, it's difficult to decide which of its many qualities is best.

Western Red Cedar is beautiful, in both sight and scent. No man-made material can duplicate the depth of Western Red Cedar's natural luster. Its subtle, natural aroma is another hallmark of its universal appeal.

It's one of North America's most durable woods. Natural resistance to deterioration has long made Western Red Cedar the premier choice for either interior or exterior home use. Cedar fibers contain natural compounds called thujaplicins that act as natural preservatives, making the wood extremely long-lasting. These compounds also give the wood its distinct aroma. Properly finished, Western Red Cedar will last for decades, even in harsh environments.

SIDING & PANELING:
Beauty, durability, choice of finish, insulation value and dimensional stability make Western Red Cedar a premier material for exterior siding and interior paneling. Its ability to accept different stains, dampen vibrations and reduce or confine noise makes it particularly effective for use as paneling. The wood is versatile enough to be used in residential, commercial or industrial structures and is widely used in saunas for its low thermal conductivity.

DECKING:
Pleasing to the senses, naturally durable and stable, Western Red Cedar is a very popular choice for decking material. It stays flat and stable and lasts for decades with easy maintenance. Western Red Cedar decks are firm but resilient, not hard and unyielding. While the wood is ideal for almost all types of finishes, in addition homeowners who prefer a distinctive silver gray color may allow their decks to age naturally.

SPECIALTY USES:
Produced in a range of patterns and sizes, Western Red Cedar often appears in fencing, lattice, balustrades, gazebos, pergolas and in decorative accessories. Because it needs minimal treatment, unlike the toxic chemical preservatives used on pressure-treated woods, Western Red Cedar is ideal for use in playground equipment. Wood carvers and other artisans choose it for its beauty and workability.

Western Red Western Red Cedar - Timeless Quality
Builders and homeowners around the world continue to appreciate the natural beauty of Western Red Cedar, a wood with roots of use that date back centuries to the Native Americans who first named it the "Tree of Life." Today, Western Red Cedar also provides unmatched durability and versatility - qualities that make it perhaps the most beloved and valued of the building woods.

"Western Red Cedar siding is often favored for its natural warmth and beauty, especially when finished with a clear or transparent tinted stain. A highly versatile material, cedar siding can convey rustic charm with exposed knots and raised grain, or traditional formality with smooth clear grain. Even the smell of fresh cedar is memorable for folks who tend to have a positive emotional reaction to the material on many levels. Cedar appeals to homeowners because of its practicality. A naturally robust material affording protection from the elements, cedar is decay and pest resistant without the addition of chemical treatments. And, of great importance to many homeowners, it is a renewable resource. We use Western Red Cedar throughout our own home."

Source thehousedesigners.com