Kinds of Cedar Lumber
Cedar lumber has long been a popular choice among builders looking for a wood that's light and porous but also durable. In addition to having a high insulating value, cedar retains its size and dimension regardless of humidity, weather or temperature changes. Different types of cedar lumber are used for a variety of purposes. Cedar's many uses include shingles, doors, windows, decking, garden structures, blinds and shutters. Because of its porous nature, cedar absorbs noise, making it ideal for use in siding or fencing. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Western Red Cedar
-
Red cedar is the most common cedar variety carried by lumberyards. Found in the Pacific Northwest, red cedar is valued for being lightweight, fairly soft, highly rot resistant, even grained and shrink resistant.Considered the best lumber for making shingles, red cedar is also a good choice for exterior lumber and is used to make lead pencils. Because red cedar trees are generally large, red cedar lumber is available in a variety of dimensions.
Atlantic Cedar
-
Cedar trees are highly rot resistant, even in harsh weather conditions. Recognized by the pungent aromatic odor characteristic of cedar, Atlantic cedar grows in the Coastal Plain of the Eastern United States. Because it can be easily split and finished, Atlantic cedar is considered a good choice for building projects. Atlantic cedar is also aesthetically pleasing, exhibiting a straight grain, fine texture and a light brown color with a pink or red tinge. Atlantic cedar is valued for its superior resistance to rot and decay.
-
Eastern White Cedar
-
Found in the North Central and Eastern parts of the United States as well as Eastern Canada, eastern white cedar is not as common as red cedar. Because it has a uniform texture, white cedar is not prone to shrinkage and is straight grained. Highly desirable as a building material, white cedar accepts finishes, glue and stains well, and can be manipulated easily with cutting and shaping tools. White cedar is a favorite among carpenters because of its capacity for holding nails securely.
Other Kinds of Cedar Lumber
-
Additional types of cedar lumber include Washington cedar, Oregon cedar, California cedar, Port Orford cedar, northern white cedar, incense cedar and southern red cedar. The majority of cedar that's used for building is harvested primarily in two areas: Washington state and British Columbia, Canada. Cedar varieties can vary in terms of color, grain, texture, strength, noise and shock absorption, durability, pliability, odor and rot resistance. Choosing the right cedar lumber for a project depends not only on usage considerations but also aesthetic preferences.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
