Why Cedar?
The Reason We Use Eastern White Cedar
I am an advocate of shopping locally and by that I mean that they are native to Ontario and the northeastern areas of Canada and the U.S.A. Therefore, when you buy these products, the wood has our climatic DNA ingrained and is well suited for our diverse environment here in Ontario.
It is a beautiful softwood coniferous tree that has the ability to grow in very wet areas as well as very rocky areas. And by rocky, I mean rocky. I’ve seen these cedars coming out of a rock crevice at a 90 degree angle and then loop up to a stand vertically to get a glimpse of the sun. Any tree that can survive and prosper in those conditions has my respect.
From a wildlife perspective, the flattened leaves are eaten in the winter time by deer to help them get through winter food shortages. If you have cedars lining your lake, you’ll notice that there are no flattened leaves below six feet from the water and that is because the deer walk the ice in the winter and eat the leaves. That is one of the reasons it is called the “tree of life”. It’s a very fitting name and is a reflection of our pioneering heritage, where people came to this country poor, and scratched out their homesteads in this inhospitable environment, often making only a meager living. But they always would open their doors to help their fellow homesteaders in need. Like the pioneers, Eastern White Cedar has grit.
Eastern White Cedar has a protective oil in it that makes it one of the woods most resistant to decay and insects. That is why it is used in projects where there are harsh outdoor conditions with moisture and radical temperature swings. It lasts.
The natural drying time for cedar is relatively quick compared to other softwoods and definitely for hardwoods, which ideally need to be kiln dried. Therefore, there is no need for large inventories of lumber to be on hand at the shop. As cedar dries it remains very stable, and resists warping and shrinking better than most species. Plus it cuts easily and has minimal cracking when milled correctly, but as most of the projects I build use the whole log, there will be cracks–so don’t be surprised if your project has them. It gives the project the true feel of the cedar and they should be appreciated, just like the knots.
It is one of the lightest Canadian wood species, making it easy to carry and handle. Its lightness is due to many microscopic air pockets, which help give it an insulating value. Rooms lined with white cedar paneling will feel warmer than those which are not. The R value of white cedar exceeds that of red cedar or pine.
In my opinion, it is a very attractive wood, with great variations in grain, patterns, colors and knots. When I mill the logs it’s like opening a box of Smarties. The mixture of the cambium, sapwood and heartwood make each piece so different from one another. When you combine the pieces in the project and see the finished product, you can’t help but be fascinated by the beauty, diversity and warmth of the wood.
When you finish constructing the project, it can take stains, urethanes and paint easily and this gives you the customer the flexibility to complete the piece as you desire. I use a spar urethane to complete most of the projects I build because it contains major UV blockers, forms a protective barrier against rain and moisture, contains special oils that allow the wood to expand and contract, and has a clear finish which allows the natural characteristics of the wood to shine through.
Finally, the aroma emitted by the cedar is quite simply the best of all woods. That is why it is used to build hope chests, and people put small bags of cedar in their closets or use cedar cloth hangers in order to leave that warm smell. Plus it doesn’t hurt that cedar resists moths. Trust me folks, its pretty nice to walk into my workshop every morning to that smell.
So those are some of the facts and my opinions on the benefits of Eastern White Cedar. I love it’s look, character, feel and smell. It’s a genuine pleasure to work with.
