Cedar
Description
Cedar is a softwood that has the advantage of being very stable. It is not very permeable to liquids and has natural phenol that preserves it from moisture, decay, and insect damage. Another great trait is that it is not prone to expansion, even with temperature changes, or twisting, cupping or cracking. Cedar is highly sought because it is a superb base for paints and stains. This makes cedar easy to work with and reliable in both outdoor and indoor applications such as paneling and furniture. Super termite resistant and light weight.
|
Common Name(s): Western Redcedar, Western Red Cedar Scientific Name: Thuja plicata Tree Size: 165-200 ft (50-60 m) tall, 7-13 ft (2-4 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 23 lbs/ft3 (370 kg/m3) Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .31, .37 Janka Hardness: 350 lbf (1,560 N) Modulus of Rupture: 7,500 lbf/in2 (51.7 MPa) Elastic Modulus: 1,110,000 lbf/in2 (7.66 GPa) Crushing Strength: 4,560 lbf/in2 (31.4 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 2.4%, Tangential: 5.0%, Volumetric: 6.8%, T/R Ratio: 2.1 |
Drying: The drying method depends on the size of the wood. Any wood that is 1” in width (such as that used for siding) will be kiln dried. Any lumber that is over 2” wide will be air dried. Pecky Cypress is can be bought air dried or kiln dried. It requires 6 months of air drying before being kiln dried. It is important not to over dry cypress in the ovens because the outside will dry easily, and the interior will be moisture which causes faster cracking.
Sustainable: Pine grows rapidly and is thus a very sustainable option. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) does not list cedar in its appendices. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) list cedar as a species of least concern.
You can buy A&BTR or Clear grade. A&BTR means A and better.
Would you like to talk to a hardwood decking specialist? We would love to help you call 954-404-8011