Gedar is Tl{E wood for outdoor proiects

f f IESTERN red cedar lumber is a UU product which you can feel confident in recommending to anY customer-builder, remodeler or doit-yourselfer for outdoor use.

From siding to decking to garden structures, it performs well. The weather-resistant wood is adaptable and blends well with landscaping. Because it is easy to work with, it produces excellent results for a neophyte as well as a veteran builder.

As long as siding is seasoned before finishing and installation and installed properly, it is hard for your customer to mess up. He must be advised to apply building paper underneath the cedar, not a vapor barrier such as plastic film. He also must be steered to the right stainless steel, high tensile strength aluminum or high quality hot dipped galvanized nail in a length that will penetrate a minimum of 1-l/2".

Story at a Glance

Selling points for cedar suggestions for outdoor projects . . ideas for add-on sale potentials.

You can guarantee the success of a project if the customer lacks experience by providing him with how-to literature from the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association.

Selling points for cedar as an outdoor wood include the rich color, beautiful grain and versatility. A recognized resistance to decay and insects is provided bY a natural phenol preservative, an abundance of heartwood and a lack of Pitch and resin, but for ground contact cedar should be pressure treated unless heartwood is used.

Insulation qualities are another benefit. Extremely low density and a fine closed cellular structure make cedar an outstanding heat and cold transfer barrier. A flamespread index of 69 and a smoke developed index of 137 qualifies the wood for Class II or B building materials in all three model building codes.

A choice of clear grade or knotty grade in interesting patterns such as bevel siding, channel and tongue and groove with or without a V-groove offers design potential. Board and batten, board on board and other variations of pattern can be readily achieved. The availability of smooth or saw texture offers a wide variety of grain, texture and visual appearances. Eye appeal is one of cedar's strongest selling points.

For fences, screens, decks, gazebos, storage sheds, planters and outdoor furniture, western red cedar is an outstanding recommendation. It blends with the colors and textures of trees, plants and flowers. Good results are easy to achieve.

Cedar can be left unfinished to weather naturally to a soft pewter gray or it can be stained with a tinted, semi-transparent stain to complement landscaping or architectural colors. A water repellent should be recommended to reinforce the natural resistance to weather.

Outdoor projects from the simplest planter to the siding of a home or commercial building offer profitable opportunities for add-on sales and cross merchandising. Building paper, foam or foil sheathing, nails, hardware, stains, paints, finishes and water repellents are essential extras for any job.

Help yourself and your do-ityourself and professional customers by suggesting cedar with plenty of help and support for their projects. It will pay off for all concerned.