Celebrate
Cedar—choosing nature’s own built-in wood
finishing material
Just say the word cedar and
instantly you think of beautiful amber-colored
wood, weather resistant and durable…and oh that
cedar smell! Reminds me of the trunk where Grandma
stored blankets. Because of naturally occurring
preservatives in the wood, a cedar
garden
shed,
planter, or piece of patio furniture can be left
to naturally age without fear of cracking,
warping, or rot due to water damage.
By using cedar’s own wood
finishing properties—the naturally occurring
oils and organic compounds—you can avoid using
chemical preservatives. Cedar is considered by
many to be the safest and healthiest option for
outdoor storage buildings, children’s play sets,
and furniture.
Types of cedar
Garden sheds, cedar siding,
and cedar shingles can be made from two types of
cedar: Western Red Cedar, and Yellow Cedar:
 | Western
Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) can be found in
coastal environments of British Columbia and
Washington, as well as in Idaho and Montana.
The wood color ranges from warm red to amber. |
| Yellow
Cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) also grows
on the Pacific Coast, especially in the
mountainous coastal forests of British
Columbia. The wood from Yellow Cedar has a
distinctive and uniform yellow color. |
Advantages of
cedar
Here are some of the
advantages of using cedar for your
garden shed:
| You
don’t have to chemically treat the
wood—unfinished cedar will age gracefully to
a silver gray color and raised grain. |
| Cedar
won’t bow, sag or crack, which is good news
for your garden shed. |
| Cedar
keeps the hot summer days at bay so the inside
of your garden shed or gazebo stays cool. |
| Cedar
is strong and durable (almost as strong as
oak), and has natural anti- bacterial and
anti-fungal properties. |
| Cedar
has an unmistakable fragrance that is both
subtle and pleasing. |
| Resistant to rot and insects |
| Very easy to work with |
For more information on projects with cedar, please
read this article on
finishing tips for garden sheds.
[more articles]
|
|
|
