Skip to content
Gift Cards Hours & Location Milling Services Monthly Specials
Western Red Cedar Wood Grain

Western Red Cedar Wood

Western Red Cedar is a lightweight softwood known for its reddish-brown color, straight grain, and natural resistance to decay, moisture, and insects. Easy to work and naturally stable, it’s widely used for outdoor projects like siding, fencing, decking, and also for interior paneling and woodworking where durability and a warm, rustic appearance are desired.

Western Red Cedar Wood

  • Rough Cut Lumber

  • 5/4 Rough Cut Western Red Cedar Lumber

    5/4 Western Red Cedar Lumber

    $5.95 - $14.95
    $5.95 - $14.95
    $5.95 - $14.95
    $5.95

    Western Red Cedar is the best wood for outside!  Just in time for summer projects! We now carry 5/4 Rough Cut Western Red Cedar Lumber which is per...

    View full details
    $5.95 - $14.95
    $5.95 - $14.95
    $5.95 - $14.95
    $5.95

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)

Pricing:



Affordable

Hardness:

350

Janka

Distribution:



Pacific Northwest Canada/US

Availability:



Readily Available

Appearance

The heartwood is reddish brown with random streaks of darker brown areas. The sapwood is narrow in size and pale yellow in colour.

Workability

Western Red Cedar is easy to work with both hand and power tools but be aware of denting and scratching. The wood is soft and gets blemishes easily. Sanding is also difficult due to the changes in density between the early and latewood.

Uses

Often used for exterior applications like shingles and siding, it also gets used for boatbuilding, box making and musical instruments.

Additional Comments

The smell of cedar being worked in the shop is glorious. Be aware when using iron-based fasteners as it can cause staining in the wood.

Have you made something with Western Red Cedar?

Send us an email with your project for a chance to be featured here and on our social media!

Frequently Asked Questions About Western Red Cedar Wood

What is Western Red Cedar used for?

Western Red Cedar is used for outdoor decking, siding, shingles, fencing, pergolas, garden furniture, boat building, and musical instrument soundboards.

Why is Western Red Cedar good for outdoor use?

Western Red Cedar is good for outdoor use because it contains natural oils and extractives primarily thujaplicins that make it resistant to rot, decay, and insect attack without chemical treatment.

Is Western Red Cedar rot-resistant?

Yes. Western Red Cedar is one of the most naturally rot-resistant wood species available in North America.

What color is Western Red Cedar?

Western Red Cedar has a reddish-brown to pinkish-brown heartwood with lighter-colored cream or white sapwood.

Is Western Red Cedar good for guitar soundboards?

Yes. Western Red Cedar is used for acoustic guitar soundboards (tops), for fingerstyle and classical guitars.

How hard is Western Red Cedar?

Western Red Cedar is a relatively soft wood with a Janka hardness of approximately 350 lbf.

Does Western Red Cedar need to be sealed?

Western Red Cedar does not require sealing for structural integrity or basic weather resistance because of its natural oils.

Is Western Red Cedar the same as Aromatic Cedar?

No. Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) and Aromatic Cedar (Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana) are entirely different species.

Is Western Red Cedar sustainable?

Yes Western Red Cedar is sustainable.

What is the best finish for Western Red Cedar decking?

Semi-transparent penetrating stains or deck oils specifically formulated for cedar are the best finishing options for Western Red Cedar decking.

6005
Verified Reviews