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Western Red Cedar
Class 1 Durability
Western red cedar heartwood is naturally durable when left untreated & is in the highest durability category of any softwood listed in the European standard. 60 year service life untreated can be expected.
Treatment is only necessary if the weathered silver grey colour is not desired.
Excellent Dimensional Stability
Western Red Cedar is renowned for its naturally occurring resistance to moisture, decay and insect damage. It has excellent dimensional stability which means it shrinks & swells minimally in service due to changes in humidity.
Physical properties of Western Red Cedar Timber
Sapwood is white with a slight yellow tinge. Heartwood is variable in colour ranging from light straw, pinkish brown to dark brown.
Western Red Cedar is very light in weight
Kiln dried : 330 to 340kg/m3 (6-8%)
Air dried : 370 to 385kg/m3 (12% moisture)
Green : 430 to 535kg/m3
Fixing & drying
Western red cedar reacts with ferrous materials & should therefore be fixed with stainless steel or hot dipped galvanised fixings.
Treatment/Finishes
Western Red Cedar will quickly weather to a silver grey colour. If this is not desired then treat with an Alkyd resin based stain.
Sustainable/recyclable
Western Red Cedar grows along the pacific coast from Northern California to southwest Alaska. The tree grows up to 60M in height & 2.4M diameter. British Columbia has an estimated standing volume of 750 million cubic M, over 50 million cubic M is in parks or protected areas. Less than 1% of British Columbia’s growing stock is harvested each year.
Western Red Cedar wood may be safely reused and recycled.
Most producers have achieved certification under one or more independent third party certification system (CSA, SFI or FSC).
