Cedar wood is a stunning and durable material with many uses. Its applications range from creating beautiful furniture to protecting a home's exterior. Discover where it comes from and the uses and benefits it provides.
What Is Cedar, And Where Does Cedar Wood Come From?
Cedars are a type of conifer. They produce cedar wood, which is a softwood. You can identify cedar wood by its red color and fragrant smell. Cedar trees grow around the globe, including in Lebanon, on the eastern Mediterranean coast and in the western Himalayas. Red cedar, the most common source of wood for building, comes from the East and West Coasts of the United States and Canada.
Cedar Uses and Benefits
Cedar wood's appearance and physical properties make it an excellent material for various projects. Cedar wood is used for:
Outdoor furniture
Fencing
Decking
Siding
Roofing
Trim
Chests
Tables
Here are the benefits that make cedar wood a popular material:
Decay-resistance: Natural oils within the wood make it resistant to rot and insects, creating a long-lasting material that won't break down.
Color: When first cut, the wood has a beautiful reddish hue. Over time, the wood fades to a distinguished brown or gray color.
Durability: Cedar wood won't crack and warp, even without protective coating or treatment — including when used in outdoor building work.
Lightweight feel: The wood's light quality makes it easy to work with and provides advantages for various building tasks.
Versatility: Cedar wood has multiple applications, including indoor and outdoor uses.
Why Cedar Is A Great Roofing And Siding Option
Cedar has many applications, but roofs and siding are two of the most common. The material's range of benefits makes it an ideal choice for these uses. Cedar makes an excellent house covering option due to its standout beauty. The unique look and range of style options for cedar shingles allow homeowners to create everything from a Cotswold Cottage to a Contemporary style residence.
Cedar's durability makes it a robust protection solution for walls or roofs. It can last through storms for three decades or more with regular maintenance. Cedar also insulates a home, allowing you to maintain steady temperatures no matter the climate outside. Cedar wood's natural insulating properties keep out noise when used as siding.
Cedar wood also requires minimal processing time and is biodegradable, making it a sustainable siding or roofing material. Its long-lasting durability means you can avoid replacing your siding or roofing as often as other materials.
Learn More About Custom Shingles' Cedar Shingles
Cedar is a quality material sourced from red cedar trees along both United States coasts. It serves many applications, including cedar shingles for roofing and siding.
Custom Shingles provides cedar roofing and siding for homes. Explore our Western Red Cedar shingle options or browse our cedar shingle portfolio to get ideas for upgrading your home appeal.