Canadian Western Red Cedar is much slower grown than British Western Red Cedar resulting in a denser, darker wood with a more varied colour palette. It also renowned for offering cladding and fencing that is completely clear and free of imperfections – i.e. zero knots and a tight, even grain.
All of Cedar Direct’s Canadian Western Red Cedar is graded according to the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau ‘R List’ Export Rules. We offer three main grades of Canadian Western Red Cedar: Clear, #2 Clear / Better and #4 Clear. Unless otherwise requested, we combine #2 Clear and Better with #4 Clear as standard to provide what we consider to be the best quality and value for money product.
There are two notable drawbacks of Canadian Western Red Cedar compared to its British Counterpart – the environmental impact of importing from the Pacific west coast of British Columbia and the cost; Canadian Western Red Cedar can be twice as expensive as British.
So, in summary, Canadian Western Red Cedar would be the best choice for your project if:
Read about British Western Red Cedar wood.
| Family name | Cupressaceae |
|---|---|
| Species name | Thuja plicata |
| Species group | Softwoods |
| Common name | Canadian Western Red Cedar |
| Origin | Well-maintained, sustainable forests on the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, Canada |
| Use | Exterior cladding and fencing |
| Colour | A varied colour palette ranging from dark reddish-brown to light amber with occasional pink highlights, silvering with age if untreated |
| Age | Old growth forests >150 years old |
| Grading | #2 clear and better with 15% #4 as standard. Clear, #2 clear and better, #4 clear available on request |
| Density | 390kg/m3 |
| Durability | 2 – durable |
| Availability | Always available |
