Choosing the right cedar for your project
BY MICHAEL FRIEDLAND
White cedar planter. COURTESY OF THE LUMBERY
CEDAR is a lightweight, sustainable material with a delightful scent because of the natural resins and oils that make the wood resistant to insects, rot and decay. As a result, cedar is perfect for products that come into contact with water and soil, such as:
■ Fencing
■ House siding
■ Decking and docks
■ Outdoor showers
■ Saunas
■ Raised garden beds
Cedar board and balusters. COURTESY OF THE LUMBERY
But faced with a choice between Western Red cedar and Northern White cedar (also known as Eastern White cedar), how do you know which to choose?
The most noticeable difference, besides their size and color, is where they grow. If you are considering climate impact as part of your purchasing choices or want to shift more of your shopping local for economic reasons, you might lean toward Eastern White if you’re in the Northeast or toward Western Red if you’re in the West.
But there’s more to consider.
NOTABLE DIFFERENCES
The Western red cedar, which has a reddish hue, grows from southeast Alaska to northern California and east to northwestern Montana. These trees typically grow to 120 or even 150 feet. The tallest today are about 200 feet tall. The widest are about 19 feet in diameter.
The Northern White cedar, which has a light-yellow color, is found in New England, southern Canada and the Midwest in swampy areas and around bodies of water. The Northern White is much smaller than the Western Red, reaching heights of about 50 feet with trunk diameters of about 2 feet.
When you’re choosing between these two woods, color and size are the two most obvious distinctions.
COLOR. Do you prefer the reddish hue of the Western red or the light yellow of the Northern white? Left untreated, both will eventually turn to what we think of as Cape Cod gray.
SIZE. Western Red cedar is a larger tree and, therefore, is available in larger pieces. If your project requires wider or longer board, the choice is straightforward.
STRENGTH. Western Red cedar has a bit more strength than White cedar and is less likely to knot. However, Eastern White cedar is still strong enough to meet the needs of most construction projects.
KNOTS. Eastern White cedar is more likely to have knots, which may or may not fit the look that you want.
OILS. The oils in Eastern white cedar are considerably stronger and can last up to a decade longer.
White cedar planter. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LUMBERY
COST, QUALITY, AND IMPACT
Other factors to consider are cost, quality and environmental impact. For those of us on the East Coast, Eastern White is likely to be lighter on both the budget and the environment.
Quality may not be as straightforward, as it tends to fluctuate from mill to mill. Different applications call for different prep work and procedures. However, it is a good practice to trace your product back to the mill of origin. If you want to repeat your purchase, add on to your project, or repair sections of your project, being able to replicate a product becomes important. And, again, this is easier when the mill isn’t on the opposite side of the continent.
White or Red?
Either will look beautiful, smell wonderful and last a long time. From that perspective, there’s no wrong answer.
This article appeared in the Fall/Winter 2021 edition of Green & Healthy Maine HOMES. Subscribe today!