Your building project needs wood, you have chosen cedar. You might think that the purchase process is simple, start here and go to the building supply store and grab some cedar, right? Not so fast, friend. Cedar is actually more than you realize.
Western red cedar and inland red cedar are two similar but not identical wood products on the market. So if you are a cedar beginner, here is a Cedar 101 crash course.
1. Know your background
The scientific name of western red cedar is Thuja plicata. It is a variety of softwood grown in the western United States and Canada, known for its extreme durability, natural preservatives, and of course untreated beauty. The natural characteristics of western red cedar make it ideal for the highest quality cedar siding, decking, shaking and shingles.
Even if you have decided that Thuja plicata is needed for your building project, you should still know something. Most western red cedars come from British Columbia, western Washington, and western Oregon. However, some western red cedars have also grown further in the interior. You can find it on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, Idaho, Montana, and parts of Alberta and eastern British Columbia.
The cedars from the more eastern, higher-altitude forests are still Thuja plicata - the same plant species as the cedars growing in the west - but there are differences in wood. In fact, these two varieties are sometimes processed, graded, and even labeled: the trees growing in coastal forests are "western red cedars" and the woods of trees extend eastward to "inland red cedars".
Now that you know the background of these woodland wonders, there are a few things to consider when trying to determine which type to buy.
look carefully
Paul Mackie is the Western Regional Manager for the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, but he also answered Mr. Cedar's ability to answer Cedar's questions.
Mackie said that while botanists may not be able to make scientific distinctions between inland planted trees and coastally planted trees, if you check both types at the same time, you will see visual differences.
"Inland fibers are different from coastal fibers," he said. "Inland fibers have a lighter appearance, more pronounced stripes and lower transparency."
Cedar decorating and siding experts looking for the highest grade products source western red cedar from trees planted in coastal climates. These coastal trees are giants that grow to 200 feet tall and are more than 10 feet in diameter. Their native habitat ranges from sea level to about 4,000 or 5,000 feet above sea level, in warm, humid conditions, compared to cedar growing on the other side of the mountain. They also offer a more diverse look.
"In coastal fibers, you will see a variety of colors appearing on the trees," Mackie said. "You will have everything from dark chocolate to light straw, all of which may appear in the same piece."
3. Is the size important?
Larger coastal cedars also tend to have a higher percentage of "transparent" grade materials, namely the highest quality cedar siding, from which cedar shakes and girders are made. Inland red cedar does not become so large in areas with high altitudes and dry climates. If you need large diameter beams or wood, they will have to have western red cedar planted from coastal forests.
Mackie says smaller inland trees are more suitable for different products than coastal trees. A fenced fence or smaller wood is two common uses for inland red cedar.
"There are not many types of inland cedar products," Mackie said.
4. Grades
Both types of cedar are also processed and graded differently. Cedar is usually divided into "clear" and "multi-section" grades. "Clear" is the most visually striking wood, and "nodule" is what it sounds - it's high quality wood, well structured, but it has some knots or other visual defects. In the "clear" logo, the wood is further classified according to the grades A to D, "A and better clearance" is the highest grade, and "D" is the lowest grade.
According to Mackie, Inland Red Cedar has a low proportion of transparent wood - so small that most inland red cedar producers do not even sell Class A materials. "D and better clears" is usually the highest level of Inland Red Cedar. It's still good quality wood, but it's not like "A" or better knots and flawless. Western Red Cedar producers have sufficient yields to deliver a wide range of clear grades up to the highest level of transparent vertical grain core.
More importantly, two different woods can be labeled similarly, even if they are actually graded according to different criteria. According to McGee, different wood producers score according to different rules. Specific rules for cedar planted by western red cedar producers in coastal areas - no inland factories.
"Many coastal factories only deal with cedar," McGee said. "Inland factories may experience some yellow pine, then white pine, then cedar."
Because cedar is just one of the many products offered by inland factories, they do not meet the cedar-specific regulations. In the "multi-section" class, Mackie said, inland cedar is usually graded according to the yellow pine level rule. It all depends on the grinding position of the wood and the standards used by the particular manufacturer.
5. Make a choice
So, just because two pieces of wood look like cedar, smell like cedar, or even a plant brother, doesn't mean they are the same. If you are looking for a piece of smaller cedar, its durability is important, but the appearance is not important, and inland red cedar may be suitable for your needs. If you are looking for a very large beam or wood and you need the best quality cedar, Western Red Cedar is the best choice for you.
Know your source, consider your project needs, and you'll be sure to get the kind of cedar that's right for you.
Orignal From: Western Red Cedar VS. Inland Red Cedar: How to choose the right product for your building project
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