Western Red Cedar

Domestic Species Focus: Western Red Cedar Wood

Last updated on June 5, 2017 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Tropical decking is definitely in vogue, but you know what? So is Western Red Cedar, a domestic species perfect for other exterior applications. While J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber focuses on multiple hardwood lumber species, we also carry a few exceptional softwood species, and Red Cedar is one of them.

Introducing Western Red Cedar

Why do people love Western Red Cedar? It’s inexpensive, insect and rot resistant, and in plentiful supply. From boards of many widths and thicknesses to large timbers, Western Red Cedar is perfect for interior flooring, outdoor decking, siding, ceilings, paneling, and more. The standard softwoods grading system allows you to specify cut, such as vertical grain. Many of our customers request clear vertical grain (CVG) Cedar in an attempt to ensure that they receive the highest quality boards; however, requesting Coastal Cedar may be an even more significant way to make sure you receive the best Western Red Cedar possible.

Inland Cedar

Coastal Cedar, or Western Red, grows in coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia; Inland Cedar grows over a larger area, extending to the Western side of the Rocky Mountains. Because of the greater area across which Inland Cedar grows, that variant offers less consistency. Inland Cedar also includes more knots and a lighter color, making it perfect for applications that require such character. If you’re looking for clear lumber with plenty of knots, Inland Cedar is your best bet.

Due to a greater variation in climate from early to late growth, the appearance of stripes adds to the wood’s character. Those same seasonal shifts cause Inland Cedar trees to remain fairly small and branch more often, producing many knots. Products such as panels, flooring, decking, and ceilings can benefit from such knotty appearance. Using Pine nomenclature, Inland Cedar is often considered #3 and better in the category of STK, or select tight knot.

Coastal Cedar

Also known as Western Red, Coastal Cedar trees quickly grow to be quite large. Since these trees grow relatively few branches, they produce lumber with few knots. Very clear, wide boards, as well as large timbers, are the result. Due to the high amount of rainfall along the coast, Western Red’s coloring is darker and more consistent than that of Inland Cedar. Characterized as CVG, or clear vertical grain, Western Red Cedar is used commonly for indoor applications such as paneling, flooring, and structural timbers, and outdoor uses like siding and shingles.

It’s not as much that one is better than the other as much as the fact that depending on your application and preferences, one will be clearly the better fit. J. Gibson McIlvain carries top grade Inland Cedar and Coastal Cedar in a variety of sizes.

Learn More About the Wood Industry

• Wood May Be the Most Renewable Building Material
• Understanding Lumber Grading and How It Can Help You

J. Gibson McIlvain Company

Since 1798, when Hugh McIlvain established a lumber business near Philadelphia, the McIlvain family has been immersed in the premium import and domestic lumber industry. With its headquarters located just outside of Baltimore, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company (www.mcilvain.com) is one of the largest U.S. importers of exotic woods.

As an active supporter of sustainable lumber practices, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company has provided fine lumber for notable projects throughout the world, including the White House, Capitol building, Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian museums.

Contact a representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling (800) 638-9100.

Western Red Cedar: A Species of Wood for All Seasons

Last updated on October 22, 2015 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Did you know that what we call a Western Red Cedar (or Redcedar) isn’t actually a Cedar at all? While it does produce an aroma similar to that of a true Cedar, the lumber sourced from a Western Red Cedar also acts similar to that of a true Cedar. Because of its rot resistance, this species is ideal for use in outdoor applications such as decks, pergolas, and siding. It has a reddish or pinkish brown heartwood with streaks or bands of darker reddish brown. The narrow sapwood streaks are pale yellow, almost white.

As a domestic softwood, Red Cedar provides the benefits of high availability and lower cost, compared to increasingly popular exotic hardwoods. Allowing for wide, long planks, Red Cedar is an excellent option for those wanting to follow that trend. As you shop for Red Cedar, though, you should know that there are two basic types.

Coastal Cedar

Western Red Cedar lives up to its name in one sense, in that it grows along the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Canada. Whether the lumber comes from the coast or further inland can make a big difference in its appearance and performance, though. Coastal Cedar comes from the coasts of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. Also referred to as Western Red, these trees receive a high amount of rain, causing them to grow quickly.

The result is large, tall trees with very few branches, in turn producing extra-long timbers and wide boards displaying clear, straight grain and a minimal number of knots. The color tends to be on the darker side, largely due to the slight distinctions between early and late growing seasons. For that reason, most CVG (Clear Vertical Grain) Red Cedar is, in fact, Coastal Cedar, as are those highly sought-after large timbers and wide boards.

Inland Cedar

Even though it’s still the same species as Coastal Cedar, Inland Cedar is highly affected by its distinct climate. Both the rainfall and the soil chemistry further inland contribute to smaller trees whose boards have a striped appearance, showing the distinctions between early and late growth periods. As you might guess, the smaller sizes lead to a greater number of branches, producing a larger incidence of knots. Many consider this striped, knotty look to be attractive and ideal for applications such as decking and paneling. It is typically graded #3 and better in STK (Select Tight Knot).

Both Coastal Cedar and Inland Cedar are good options for various applications. When placing an order, though, it can be helpful to inform your lumber supplier about your project so they can recommend the correct type of Western Red Cedar. At J. Gibson McIlvain lumber company, we intentionally focus on quality and endeavor to source the highest quality Inland Cedar and Coastal Cedar we can find.

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J. Gibson McIlvain Company

Contact a representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling (800) 638-9100.

Western Red Cedar Lumber

Last updated on October 2, 2013 by Sozo Staff 4 Comments

Western Red Cedar, which is not technically a true Cedar, is a tree from the Cypress family. It is sometimes spelled “Western Redcedar,” and, although both are truly misnomers, Western Red Cedar does exhibit many of Cedar’s same qualities. For example, Western Red Cedar is a softwood, but it is often used in outdoor applications because its natural characteristics make it very well-suited for exterior projects. Even the untreated lumber is quite rot resistant as a result of high levels of extractives, which act as a natural fungicide.

Western Red Cedar is also very stable once dried, but because the drying process for this lumber can sometimes be difficult to perfect, it is important for consumers to select the right wholesaler. The lumber specialists at J. Gibson McIlvain, a centuries-old wholesaler of high quality lumber, are experts at dealing with this lumber, so they’re a great source of information.

Western Red Cedar grows in a very large region along the west coast of the United States and Canada, but, while this wood does grow plentifully, concerns have been rising about the continuing availability of this wood. This concern is largely the result of Western Red Cedar’s rapidly increasing popularity, but with greater environmental awareness and more responsible forestry practices, the supply has already begun to balance. In fact, the rate of replanting for this species is five to one, meaning that future generations will see more Western Red Cedar than any who came before them.

Western Red Cedar lumber, in addition to being durable, is also considered very beautiful. The wood has a long, straight grain pattern and also exhibits warm undertones – an appearance that lends itself well to any design.

In exterior applications, Western Red Cedar is a wonderful choice. The wood has a low density, making it very lightweight, and as such, it was traditionally popular for use in shingle making. It is also used to construct exterior wood siding, trim, outdoor furniture, decking projects, and even interior millwork. What’s more, its exceptional weather resistance allows Western Red Cedar to come in direct contact with the ground, and as such, it is often used to construct fence posts, sheds, trellises, pergolas, and other outdoor structures.

Working with Western Red Cedar

Last updated on September 25, 2013 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

When it comes to Western Red Cedar Lumber, J. Gibson McIlvain’s inventory is second-to-none. By understanding the exceptional quality of this one-of-a-kind wood, you can appreciate the myriad applications for which it can be used.

For starters, you may have heard people using alternative names for Western Red Cedar Lumber. Some of those include the following: red cedar, redcedar, giant cedar, Oregon cedar, and cypress. All of those terms refer to the same kind of lumber, though; it’s produced by evergreen conifers that grow primarily in the Pacific Northwest coast of North America. While these trees grow in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, they’re especially prominent in B.C. The Latin name for the trees means “tree of life,” which captures the wide range of uses coastal aborigines found for this durable but lightweight wood. Traditionally, Western Red Cedar lumber was used for dugout canoes to hand tools, while its bark was used to make rope, baskets, and even clothing items.

Western Red Cedar lumber is prized for its durability and subsequent longevity. Resistant to insect damage and decay, some fallen Red Cedar trees have retained their integrity for up to 100 years! Some of the reasons for this wood’s remarkable stamina is found in the preserving abilities of its natural oils. Combined with that intrinsic benefit, proper finishing techniques and maintenance make finished products well-equipped to stand the test of time.

While the wood from many species of trees may be equally durable, most is much heavier in weight. The combination of Western Red Cedar lumber’s resilience to decay, combined with its lightness in weight make it perfect for outdoor, fencing, and furniture. The wood’s low density translates into thermal insulation and acoustics, too, so using it for paneling and siding brings value that extends past mere aesthetics.

One fairly unusual quality of this wood is that it’s considered to be hygroscopic, meaning that it has dimensional stability that helps it to attain equilibrium with its atmosphere by releasing and absorbing moisture, by turns. This characteristic helps it to avoid shrinkage, warping, twisting, or checking like many coniferous woods are prone to do.

While Western Red Cedar trees may reach heights up to 200 feet and have trunks with diameters over 10 feet, they seem small compared to their second cousins, the California Red Woods. Both types of trees, however, have bases that appear swollen and fluted, with oversized, drooping branches that shade smaller plants around them. Compared to Red Woods, Red Cedars are more flexible, resisting shattering. For that reason, hydro-electric posts are made from Red Cedar lumber. By comparison, Redwoods are more dense and oily than Red Cedars, making them resistant to gluing and staining and more likely to split when penetrated by screws.

For more information about recommended applications for Western Red Cedar lumber, you can contact the softwoods team at J. Gibson McIlvain.