Incense cedar makes a@meback

I NCENSE CEDAR is back on the I on the market. Wth the help of specialized mills and remanufacturen. it has become a reliable and easy to use product which you may recommend with confidence to your do-it-yourself and contractor customers alike.

The qualities that made incense cedar a favorite with the Indians and early settlers on the Pacific Coast are restoring it to popularity today. In tests conducted by the Forest Products Laboratory. in- cense cedar received #l ratin-es in ph;"sical properties including narural durability. shrinkage. checking. weathering. warping. paint holding. insulation value and workability. These ratings place incens€ cedar above other westem softwoods in eight of nine categories. The #'1 rating given for strength was the only weak spot in the reporr. lncense cedar is a favorite for interior paneling. Available in clear or knoqv

Because of is oustanding dumbiliry' and resistance to decay. incense cedar is an excellent choice for use in areas with high humidiry or moisture. Rncing. walks. greenhouse benches. flower boxes. mudsills. raften and boardwalks as well as subflooring and sheathing have been traditional uses for incense cedar.

High insulation qualities. durabilit-v and fine dimensional stability make incense cedar a wise choice for exterior siding. Architectural styles ranging from rustic cabins to painted Colonial and stained or natuml contemponry structures arc well executed with incense cedar siding. The wood takes all finishes well or turns a lovely silver shade if left to weather.

Sfory at a Glance

0t TD00R uses for incense cedar are many. Because of its dunbilrty, it is recommended for areas with high moisture or humidity levels. lts attnactive appeaance is a plus for ornamental olanters.

Wlncensd cedar Eturns to @rF sumer market after years as pencil stock ...physical properties #1 ... targeted for &i-y manufactured for easy installa tion ... multi-use prcducts de veloped.

styles as well as pecky. it can be used with either the rough texture or smooth side showing. The lovely color and lingering aromatic fra-erance create a warm, homey ambiance compatible with today's interior designs.

To make it easy for do-it-yourselfers to use it, interior paneling is being manufactured with an interlocking tongue and groove design on all four panel edges. Installed readily with hand tools. the panels can be nailed in place or applied with adhesive. Because the panels can be applied vertically, horizontally or diagonally, the homeowner can select the visual effect most complementary to the room. The panels can be reversed to give a choice ofrough textured or smooth surface. Incense cedar paneling can be left natural or finished with a clear penetrating sealer or semi-transparent stain.

Mouldings of all types also are being milled from incense cedar. Again designed for easy handling by the do-ityourselfer, they come in a wide variety of profiles for both interior and exterior applications.

For outdoor uses. incense cedar is manufactured as pre-cut fencing. Siding also comes in a variety of patterns. Tongue and groove. shiplap. plain or rabbeted bevel. channel rustic or boards are available with rough-sawn texture on one side and smooth on the other.

Decking has been made easy to use with the option of staining or leaving unfinished. The high dimensional stability. workability and natural insulating qualities of incense cedar make it a good choice tbr outdoor living areas, especially near spas or other areas where there is moisture.

Lattice, another product manufactured with the do-it-yourselfer in mind, has expanded beyond the garden. Although fences. windscreens, trellises and gazebos are still popular, preassembled lattice panels have moved inside as a decorator item. Used in doorways, as shutters at windows. as dividers. for interesting wall finishes, to lower ceilings, as screens or storage racks, they challenge a homeowner's imagination.

Some incense cedar for both indoor and outdoor applications is available with a pecky effect. Similar to that found in pecky cypress, this is created in nature as a fungus (Poly'porus amarus) enters older living trees when live tissue is exposed by loss of a branch or when fire destroys the bark. The airborne fungi spores thrive only in very mature living wood tissue. usually in trees of 150 to 165 years old. When the tree is cut. the fungus is destroyed and disappears leaving behind an unusual texture.

Despite its useful characteristics. cedar, because it grows in such close proximity to other westem softwoods. began to be cut and marketed as westem cedar. For many years the aromatic wood was used mainly for pencils. Now that several companies are concentrating on incense cedar, it has regained its identity. Availability plus natural attributes makes incense cedar a viable product for both you and your customer.