• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Adverticia

Advertising Strategies for Today's Media World

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Business Tips
    • Construction
    • Family
    • Furniture
    • Health
    • Swimming Pools
    • Technology
    • The Arts
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact

Western Red Cedar Lumber – FAQs & Supplier Info

Last updated on August 27, 2013 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Western red cedar lumber is an increasingly common choice for use as siding, trim, and timbers. Understanding the origins, attributes, and uses of this kind of wood can help you to appreciate its beauty and determine its suitability for your lumber needs.

The western red cedar (or “redcedar”) tree is an evergreen conifer that can reach heights up to 200 feet. These trees have trunks that can surpass 10 feet in diameter and are swollen and fluted at their bases. Their large, drooping branches may shade ferns, huckleberries, Devil’s club, and mosses and may reach out to touch neighboring western hemlock and Douglas firs, and spruces. Most western red cedars can be found along the Pacific Northwest coast of North America—particularly in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

The Canadian province of British Columbia has the longest stretch of land that’s home to western red cedar trees; in fact, it’s the province’s official tree. It’s also been called “the cornerstone of Northwest Coast aboriginal culture,” due to its historic spiritual significance. Some of that significance is captured in its Latin name, arbor-vitae, which means “tree of life.” Indeed, coastal aborigines used the western red cedar for all parts of life. The wood was used to make dugout canoes as well as house planks and tools. The inner bark was used for rope, clothing, and baskets. Long branches could also be twisted to make rope and baskets.

western red cedar suppliersAnother way in which this tree deserves its title as “the tree of life” relates to the durability and longevity of its wood. Resistant to decay and insect damage, the wood of fallen western red cedars maintains its integrity for a full century! This resistance to insect damage and decay is caused, in part, by the wood’s natural oils that act as preservatives. Western red cedar that is finished properly and well-maintained will serve you well for decades.

Unlike many other durable woods, the western red cedar is also a lightweight wood. That feature makes it ideal for use as outdoor siding as well as interior paneling as well as exterior siding and outdoor furniture and fencing. Another reason western red cedar lumber is ideal for siding and paneling is that its low density increases its insulation value, making the red cedar the best thermal insulator among common softwoods. That same characteristic makes it relatively easy to transport and handle, too. If you’re a woodworker, you’ll enjoy the fact that western red cedar is easy to work with and to finish.

The J. Gibson McIlvain Company staff has members dedicated to softwood products, including western red cedar lumber, who can answer your questions about the best uses for western red cedar lumber in your next construction project.

Want to learn more about lumber?

  • What is the Lacey Act, and how does it affect me?
  • CITES and lumber import regulations
  • What’s so special about Genuine Mahogany?

Filed Under: Construction

Additional Articles

walnut crown molding
The Natural Appeal of Walnut Wood
Large new backyard pool before being filled with water
Decision Making: 3 Types of Swimming Pool Construction
concrete parking lot by factory
Industrial & Commercial Property Concrete Parking Lots
Planning Your Indoor Swimming Pool, Part 2
luxury indoor pool with sky lighting
Planning Your Indoor Swimming Pool, Part 1
worker about to empty septic tank underground
Septic Tank Pumping in Mooresville, NC

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

15 − ten =



Primary Sidebar

Tropical decking lumber
Plywood options

Featured Articles

  • Should I Use Ipe or Teak?: Two High End Lumbers Explained
  • 4 Common Tropical Decking Problems- And Their Solutions
  • Facts about Sapele Wood - Uses & Supplier Information
  • Why Is Cherry Wood So Popular?
  • Decking Considerations: Ipe Timing and Pricing
  • Hardwood Plywood: Is it Dangerous?
  • Thinking Outside the Trends: Afromosia as a Teak Alternative
  • Ipe: Air Dried, Kiln Dried, or a Combination of Both?
  • Inland & Coastal Cedar – Appreciating the Differences
  • Alternatives to Spanish Cedar: Cheaper, Readily Available & Weather Resistant
J Gibson McIlvain Lumber Company
Lyon Financial

Popular Articles

  • Stop Hiding Your Phone Number, Walmart.com
  • Dance Studio Management Software Review
  • Septic Tank Pumping in Mooresville, NC
  • How do They Get Those Surgical Instruments So Clean?
  • Are Your Shoulder Blades Crooked?
  • The Bedroom Source: Maxtrix Furniture for Kids
  • Maxtrix: Bunk Beds with Unlimited Options
  • Top 3 Household Hazards for Kids
  • Getting Started with X10 Home Automation
  • Why a Swimming Pool Is a Great Addition to a Healthy Lifestyle
X10 Home Automation

Reader Feedback

  • Alice Carroll on Choosing a Lumber Supplier
  • climbing training Ipswich on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service
  • Shammy Peterson on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service
  • arborist reports South Auckland on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service
  • Erika Brady on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service
  • Robert Ottarson on Custom Fireplace Doors & Screens – Westchester County, NY
  • Braden Bills on Choosing a Licensed Arborist – Quality Tree Service

Copyright © 2023 Sozo Firm Inc · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Sitemap