A primer of cedar terms

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Those not in the lumber business often have a different answer and even a lumberman's definition may differ depending on the area he represents.

Cedar is a soft wood with reddish heartwood and white sapwood. It comes from a coniferous tree of genus cedrus, juniperus or thuja with numerous species, each known by a different name.

Western red cedar, perhaps the best known by builders and architects, is found in Western British Columbia, Washington and Oregon.Of thethuja plicata species, it has a natural resistance to decay and insect damage. Because of this, it is widely used in shingles and shakes for roofs and exterior siding. It also is popular for fences, decks, siding and paneling, often used inside as well as outside.

Red cedar grown outside the west is known as incense cedar or eastern red cedar. Eastern red cedar is really a juniper (Juniperus virginiana) growing in much of the eastern half of the United States, both north and south, and as far west as the plains states. Closet and chest liners, cedar chests and pencils iue among its products. Because of its distinctive fragrance, it also is known as aromatic red cedar.

Incense cedar, also an aromatic wood, grows on the Pacific Coast from Southern California to Northern Oregon as well as in parts of

Nevada. Of the libocedrus decurrens species, it is extremely durable. Widely used for pencil stock, shingles, fence posts and in other areas where stability against weathering is useful, it is said to have been discovered by Gen. John Fremont in 1847 in the upper Sacramento (Ca.) Valley.

Beautiful as well as durable, it is now being cut for interior and exterior siding by at least one lumber company. Its decay resistance, elegant grain and rich color reportedly make it a perfect woodwork material. An educational program for builders is underway to create demand for the estimated 9 billion board feet available for cutting.

To further muddle identification of cedar, there is cedar of lrbanon, Spanish cedar found in South America, Mexican cedar in the country of the same name, once used for cigar boxes, and various cedars used and identified by regional names in Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the West Indies. Cedar also is a term applied to at least a dozen other items including birds, aquatic plants and a nut used for food in Siberia.

Is there any wonder that your customer may appear confused when you recommend cedar?

Story at a Glance

How to identify three types of cedar. .characteristics of vari. ous species...uses in home building andd-i-y. .background for customer educalion.

WESTERN red cedar trees often grow to a height ol 1e5-200 feet with a diameter ol 2-5 feet, with small overlapping, scale-like leaves that form sprays. lt has smallish (about 3/4 inch long,) brown cones and cinnamon red bark which turns gray as the tree ages.

Poxy Coat, an outstanding protective coating, is used on roofs tb seal nail holes, and provide a seamless one piece surface that actually expands and contracts with weather changes. Guaranteed for lO years, it reflects heat and lowers interior temperatures by l5-2oo.