Western Red Cedar

CLEAR GRADE SOFTWOOD

Uses: Glass house and shed construction, shingles, interior finishing, exterior boarding and cladding, beehive construction, poles, posts and fences.

General Description: Western Red Cedar is straight grained, rather coarse textured, with a prominent growth ring figure and non-resinous. The timber's heartwood shows considerable colour variation when fresh, from a dark chocolate-brown to a salmon pink colour, perhaps variegated, maturing down to a reddish-brown and, in time, to silver-grey – this weathered appearance sometimes sought-after by architects. Weight is 370 kg/m³ (23 lb/ft³); specific gravity .37.

Further product details

Mechanical Properties

Western Red Cedar has low bending and crushing strength, with very low stiffness and resistance to shock loads. Steam bending classification is very poor.

Seasoning

Thin stock dries readily with little degrade, but thicker sizes tend to hold moisture at the centre and care is needed to avoid internal honeycombing and collapse. This is especially true of UK timber. There is small movement in service.

Durability

The timber is durable. Standing trees liable to attack by the Western Cedar borer and seasoned timber liable to attack by common furniture beetle. Resistant to preservative treatment.

Other Information

Family Name: Cupressaceae

Latin Name: Thuja plicata

Distribution: Canada, USA and introduced into the UK and New Zealand.

Also known as: British Columbia red cedar (UK); giant arborvitae (USA); red cedar (Canada).

Douglas Fir Hemlock Pitch Pine Siberian Larch Southern Yellow Pine Thermowood Western Red Cedar