How to sell more cedar

hESIGN flexibility. which has l/ s,iven western red cedar an impJrtant role in home building for years, makes it a viable product to sell.

Dealers can offer siding patterns adaptable to any style of architecture. The siding shown in the home illustrated here is a basic product, but by no means the only one. Available siding materials include bevel, channel, tongue and groove, v-grooved and flush joint. All are available with one side smooth and the other rough or saw-textured.

Story at a Glance

Benefits to emphasize when selling cedar. product knowledge that can help close sales.. using cedar versatility to an advantage.

In addition to an easy to sell appearance with curbside appeal, western red cedar siding offers other benefits. These include natural resistance to decay and uncommon durability; the lowest volumetric shrinkage of any of the domestic species of wood; extremely low density, and a fine closed cellular structure which make it an excellent heat and cold transfer barrier. Applied properly, western red cedar has great weather resistance, taking exposure to the elements with minimal dimensional disturbance and resistance to pulling loose from fastenings.

Other sales points include being rated by the Forest Products Laboratory as one of the species of softwoods which works most easily with hand tools; extremely highly rated glue capabilities; high resistance to splitting, and light weight for easy handling.

Perhaps one of the most impor- tant sales advantages of cedar is its compatability with a variety of finishes. Left without finishing, western red cedar weathers to a soft silver gray or the natural reddish finish can be preserved by applying a water repellent preservative. Those who prefer a uniform. cleanable surface or a different color tone can use latex or penetrating stain to achieve the look they want. Color is also possible with the use of oil, oil alkyd or allacrylic latex paints.

Any way you build it or finish it, western red cedar sidine is a best seller.