Western
Red Cedar
From
Northern British Columbia, Canada, to California, a rugged spine
of mountains stretches for almost 1,500 miles parallel to the Pacific
coast of North America. Along the slopes and in the valleys of these
mountains, the humus-rich soil nourishes mixed softwood forests
in vast abundance. 
The
majority of Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) grows in coastal forests.
Western Red Cedars grow also in the drier interior forests of British
Columbia, Washington, Idaho and Montana where they are smaller in
stature with a tight knotted growth characteristic. Cedars rarely
grow in pure stands but are generally found in association with
other species. Western Red Cedar forests are predominantly managed
forests, in which controlled harvests, natural regeneration and
reforestation programs ensure a perpetual harvest.
A
Wood Of Warmth And Beauty
Western
Red Cedar is, above all, a wood of exceptional beauty. In its natural,
unfinished state, it has a richly textured, tactile grain combined
with a palette of warm, mellow tones ranging from light amber to
deep honey brown. No man-made material can duplicate the depth of
cedar's natural luster. It also remains subtly aromatic, and the
characteristic fragrance of cedar adds another dimension to its
universal appeal.
Whether
used in wall paneling or ceilings, doors or windows, moldings, railings,
or posts or beams, the presence and prestige of cedar enhances structures
of any type or design, contemporary or traditional, homes, offices,
stores or public buildings.
The
Gift Of Durability
Western
Red Cedar contains natural oils that act as preservatives to help
the wood resist insect attack and decay. Cedar is also a dimensionally
stable wood that lies flat and stays straight. Properly finished
and maintained, Western Red Cedar ages gracefully and endures for
many years. 
Cedar
is the preferred material for all outdoor applications that seek
visual harmony with the landscape combined with stability and durability:
from siding and patio decking to fences, planters, screens, shelters
and garden furniture. Indoors, cedar's dimensional stability makes
it perfectly suited to a variety of uses in high moisture areas
such as kitchens, bathrooms and saunas.
Western
Red Cedar should be preservative treated if intended for use in
applications where it comes in contact with the ground.
Beautiful
Benefits
Beauty
aside, the purely practical, dollars-and-cents value of cedar offers
other benefits: the wood's cellular structure creates interior air
spaces that give it an insulation value higher than most woods and
much higher than brick or concrete. Buildings which feature cedar
paneling, ceilings or siding tend to stay cooler in the summer and
warmer in the winter. Cedar also has excellent sound suppression
and absorption qualities.
