What does cedar wood look like?
Most types of cedar wood are a pinkish-red color, though it can have some purple tones as well. As it ages it loses its reddish hues and becomes a silver or gray color.
Cedarwood is light, soft, resinous, and durable, even when in contact with soil or moisture. It is an important structural timber in native regions but is infrequently used elsewhere. Distillation of the wood releases an aromatic oil.
When fully weathered, cedar takes on a light silvery-gray appearance. If you like the weather-beaten look of a seaside cottage or an old barn, cedar can develop that look all on its own. But one aspect of cedar's weathering process that doesn't appeal to some homeowners is that it turns gray unevenly and looks blotchy.
Color/Appearance: Heartwood reddish to pinkish brown, often with random streaks and bands of darker red/brown areas. Narrow sapwood is pale yellowish white, and isn't always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Grain/Texture: Straight grain with a coarse texture and moderate natural luster.
Cedars have bluish-green needles, growing in groups along woody branches. Another identification feature of true cedar trees is their large, barrel-like cones that grow upward on branches rather than dangle. A mature cedar tree has reddish-brown bark with long scales that are easily peeled.
No, cedar is not a hardwood. This iconic wood, known throughout the world for its beauty, versatility and spicy aroma, is a softwood. It belongs to a group of plants known as “gymnosperms,” which includes most conifers, such as pine and fir trees. The common term for all gymnosperms is softwoods.
The leaves are evergreen and are needle-like in shape and arranged into spirals. These trees have light brown cones, reddish-brown bark, and grow in full sun. Cedars are planted and protected today for aesthetic reasons, medicinal and spiritual practices, in forest restoration, and as wind-breaks.
Some are deep brown, whereas others are light yellow-gold. The heartwood, however, retains the characteristic blushed-red color that cedar is associated with. Western red cedar is commonly used for shakes and shingles where its natural appearance makes the building feel warmer and more welcoming.
The cedar is known for its longevity and resistance to decay. Similarly, Mary's sinlessness is an expression of immortality and absence of bodily degeneration. The cedar is a tall and noble tree. It becomes thus a symbol for Mary's considerable spiritual stature, excellence and human perfection in God.
Cedar – At just 19.7 to 23 pounds per square foot (dry) Cedar is one of the lightest woods. It's a softwood building material that's used for a wide range of purposes. Cypress – Like Cedar and Redwood Cypress is a lightweight softwood that is durable and resistant to water damage.
What happens if cedar gets wet?
Some wood, including redwood, cedar and teak, contains varying degrees of natural wood preservatives. But water that soaks into any of these wood species will cause them to crack. The cracks start out as tiny checking cracks. Water entering the wood causes it to expand.
Western Red Cedar is one of the world's most durable woods, as it has a natural resistance to moisture, decay and insect damage.
The ancients made cedarwood oil from Lebanon cedar, a true cedar of the genus Cedrus, However, the species used for modern cedar chests and closets in North America is Juniperus virginiana, and cedarwood oil is now typically derived from various junipers and cypresses (of the family Cupressaceae).
Despite having the highest hardest rating of any species on this list, aromatic cedar is far from the strongest. Its elasticity causes the wood fiber to pull apart when a force is applied.
Western Red Cedar: properties. Wood harvested from the Thuja plicata is renowned for its pleasing reddish-brown colour, straight grain, excellent workability, dimensional stability and remarkable natural durability. As such, it is a preferred choice for any project where weather resistance and attractiveness are key.
Naturally resistant to insects and rot so no chemical treatment is necessary. Requires less maintenance than other types of wood. Resistant to temperature and weather conditions. Doesn't need to be stained.
The true cedars (genus Cedrus) are valuable timber trees and striking specimen plantings in the urban landscape that grow well in a variety of soil and climatic conditions. The wood is durable and decay resistant. Cedars have been successfully introduced into areas outside of their natural range.
Cedarwood is also popular for indoor uses such as furniture, cabinets, and paneling because of its lovely scent and resistance to rot and pests. Unfortunately, this wood also has a tendency to split. I have seen it split after only a few months in storage.
Occupational exposure to cedar and pine woods and pine resin (colophony) can cause asthma and chronic lung disease.
Unlike other woody scents like sandalwood, patchouli, and pine, cedarwood has a soft and camphoraceous smell that's prickly, cooling, and slightly mothball-like. Cedarwood is less minty than pine, and is less musky than patchouli. It contains less sweetness and smokiness than sandalwood.
Where does cedar grow?
True cedars (and remember, that is all that we are discussing here!) hail from the mountains of the western Himalayas of Asia and the Mediterranean region of Europe, where they are often found at high altitudes. Cedars are generally hardy to zone 6, although cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is a bit more tender.
About the white cedar tree
Identification: White cedars are evergreens that grow in a narrow, pyramid shape. They often have crooked or twisting trunks. Cedars can be identified by their scale-like needles, which are flat and fan-shaped. Cedars create small, reddish-brown cones that stay on the tree through winter.
Cedar trees prefer full sun locations (6-8 hours of sun per day) in moist, well-draining soil. And they're adaptable to a wide variety of soil types, making them easy to grow.
Taupe, tan and beige are all classic colors to pair with cedar. This taupe, beige and brown feel right at home under an Aged Cedar roof. Keeping the colors toned down creates a cohesive look with an aged roof.
Cedar Brown is a dark, gray, earthy brown with a dusty pink undertone. It is a perfect paint color for an exterior accent on railings or garage doors. Pair it with natural woods.
Cedar siding adds distinctive character to any home or structure. Cedar siding enhances structural integrity, durability, and when treated by SaferWood, is proven to be fire resistant. These products have passed the most stringent fire retardant tests mandated by building codes.
“When the Europeans first came here (to the New World) and they encountered our Eastern red cedar, they called it cedar because of its aroma.” Juniper trees smell very similar to true cedar trees, which can be found throughout Asia and Europe, but that is where the similarities end.
The western red cedar would provide most of the raw materials they would need to meet their basic needs. From making cribs for their newborns, textiles, clothing, shelters, canoes, to coffins for the deceased. The western red cedar was called the “tree of life” because aboriginal communities depended so heavily on it.
Cedar grows best in slightly acidic, moist soil. Space plants 3 to 5 feet apart, depending on the type of cedar. Plant so the crown of the plant is a few inches above the soil line. Keep young plants well watered and weed free.
1. Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF. An ironwood tree that is native to Australia, this wood comes from a species of tree occurring across most of Eastern and Southern Australia. Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.
How durable is cedar?
It's a durable wood that is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect attacks, and resists moisture absorption, so it tends to last longer, needs less maintenance, and doesn't warp or split as easily. A cedar deck can last for 15-20 years or more, depending on maintenance and environment.
If left in its natural state, some darkening of the wood can be expected as it ages and the color variation will become less pronounced. Application of transparent finishes will also darken western red cedar to some degree but they form a protective surface that is easier to maintain.
Use Cedar Mulch
Cedar has long been used as a natural way to repel and inhibit insects like termites, certain ants, moths, mosquitoes, and cockroaches.
When left untreated, within five years of installation, the cedar siding will begin to rot and soften from the moisture that enters from not being protected.
Of course, it's possible to leave your project without any treatment at all — one of the glories of durable timber species like this. With all its resins, Western Red Cedar is naturally rot resistant and still performs well without a finish.
That said, its natural oils also make it susceptible to excessive moisture and other environmental threats. Combined with its porous nature, this makes cedar homes especially vulnerable to harmful mold spores.
Used to preserve the Cedar's natural color and appearance, transparent or semi-transparent solvent-borne penetrating stains are recommended. Transparent stains are similar in composition to semi-transparent stains but contain fewer pigments that provide color.
When finishing cedar wood, we recommend using linseed oil. This type of oil is the most popular with woodworkers, as well as cedar cladding users and craft enthusiasts. If you would like an oil finish on a piece of mahogany, we recommend using tung oil, linseed oil or teak oil.
As you can see densities of Cedar wood species are low. This is why Cedar wood is lightweight and has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Its strength is significantly according to the weight of the wood. Cedar comes from a large, coniferous evergreen tree.
Cedars are naturally found at high altitudes; over 1,500m in the Himalayas, and 1,000m in the Mediterranean. Compared to a tree within the same family, such as pine, cedars are generally quite small. They typically grow to around 35m, but larger in some circumstances.
Which cedar is best?
The red cedar, which is also known as western red cedar, is the preferred kind for building materials. The main reasons are its lightness, its resistance to insects, water and rot, and for its unmistakable red colour and aromatic smell.
It's common knowledge, but Balsa is indeed the softest and lightest of all commercial woods. Nothing else even comes close. Useful for insulation, buoyancy, and other special applications.
Hardness. Aromatic red cedar has a Janka rating (used to test the relative hardness of wood) of 900, while southern yellow pine is behind by a bit with a Janka rating of 690. So cedar is a little harder.
Cedar wood projects typically last more than 20 years without splitting, rotting, or warping. White oak and teak are also long lasting woods that are resistant to decay, twisting, cracking, or warping.
Cedar has a reddish color, white accents, and unique grain pattern, making for a warm, rich-looking wood. Pine, by contrast, is lighter in color, ranging from light brown to cream. Pine has to be pressure-treated so it can withstand the elements and wear and tear.
Cedar wood tends to be used for its natural beauty, which means it isn't typically hidden in the framing of a construction project. With this visual appeal, cedar lends itself to be used in many applications like fencing, decking, siding, and trim.
Cedar – At just 19.7 to 23 pounds per square foot (dry) Cedar is one of the lightest woods. It's a softwood building material that's used for a wide range of purposes. Cypress – Like Cedar and Redwood Cypress is a lightweight softwood that is durable and resistant to water damage.
Western Red Cedar wood is considered the most valuable of all softwoods because of its fine, straight grain, color, flexibility and strength in proportion to weight, however, the most important property of cedar wood is its high impermeability to liquids and its natural phenol preservatives, which make it ideally ...
What are the benefit of cedar lumber? Cedar is durable and strong– Western Red Cedar is lightweight but stable and is less likely to crack and warp than even treated lumber. Western Red Cedar contains oils that act as preservatives to deter insect attack and decay. This same oil gives cedar its distinctive smell.
Teak vs Cedar – aesthetics
Teak is a hardwood that is naturally more dense and heavy than cedar. Both are commonly left raw with teak fading to a beautiful, silvery grey patina. As it is a porous timber, cedar will require an annual coat of protective oil to retain its natural beauty.
Is cedar more expensive than pine?
Cedar is increasingly rare and thus more expensive than pine. However, cedar stands up to the test of time and its aroma and beautiful appearance coupled with the comparatively low required maintenance make it a smart investment.
Occupational exposure to cedar and pine woods and pine resin (colophony) can cause asthma and chronic lung disease.
In general, exposure to excessive amounts is considered to have an irritant effect on eyes, nose and throat in addition to pulmonary function impairment and is considered a human carcinogen. Western red cedar dust has also been shown to cause asthma.
Due to its chemical properties, cedar is naturally weather-resistant and repels most bugs. But over the years it can crack slightly and develop a fuzzy surface texture unless it's periodically refinished. Cedar accepts sealers and stains beautifully and should be refinished every two to three years.
It's a durable wood that is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect attacks, and resists moisture absorption, so it tends to last longer, needs less maintenance, and doesn't warp or split as easily. A cedar deck can last for 15-20 years or more, depending on maintenance and environment.