Western red cedar, also known as the “tree of life,” belongs to Cupressaceae. It is found in abundance in the western part of North America from Alaska to California and east to Montana. The western red cedar trees can grow to a knotless height of 25m and can live up to 1000 years of age. Its wood is quite cold resistant and has a high resistance to decay. As a result, western red cedar is in high demand for application as outdoor construction in the form of the facade, decking, posts, cedar cladding, etc.
The color of sapwood is generally white and 2-5 cm wide. On the other hand, the core wood color varies from reddish-brown to red-brown. The dried wood density varies between 340-460 kg/m3, depending on the width of age rings. Western red cedar wood, after drying, gains average dimensional stability and hence becomes easy & clean to work with. For exterior flooring wood, moisture upon delivery is approx. 16-18%. On the other hand, this moisture upon delivery moves down to 10-12% for facade profiles. The wood contains a resin that gives it a typical smell. The wood tends to become light gray after being exposed to the weather naturally. This phenomenon does not affect its quality and durability. Even the color differences between the individual planks are natural and visible.
It is essential to provide wooden facade profiles, protection against biological attacks to increase their life span. Some of the protection methods are:
Structural Protection: Structural Protection: One of the primary threats to wooden construction is that of exterior rot caused by wood-infecting fungus. Hence, to ensure the long life of the woods, it is essential to keep the moisture below the level that is sufficient for fungus to proliferate. The equilibrium moisture in the covered exteriors is 15 ± 3%, and in the case of uncovered surfaces, it is 18 ± 6%. That is why it is best to choose wood with vertical fibers as water runs best along the fibers inside the wood. The water gets stuck in the pocket from which it cannot escape.
Chemical protection : Chemical protection protects the wood from fungus attack and insect damage. It is essential to preserve the woods chemically if they are not naturally durable.
Surface Treatment : a proper application ensures protection of wooden facades against moisture and UV rays. The Cedar cladding surfaces treated by OSMO oils prevent penetrating of the water into the wood and eliminate its moisture content.
The Bottom-Line: Au-Mex provides excellent quality of western red cedar for facade profiles. We are known for providing customers with trouble-free products at the competitive price range. The western red cedar for facade profiles is highly durable and provides a very lovely optic of the outdoor facade. With various protection methods employed, the life span of the Western Red Cedar cladding or decking increases.
Updated 19.09.23
