Cedar Lumber And Its Uses

Cedar wood is known for its scent, but it has other useful and sought after properties aside from its aromatic qualities. These are why cedar lumber is used in crafting everything from shingles to musical instruments. But not all cedar lumber are made equal. Some types are better for specific roles than others, so it’s important to know the types and the applications they are useful in. For now we’ll go into the general attributes and uses of cedar.

 

Common Qualities

Most types of cedar lumber have three common characteristics. As a softwood, cedar is similar to pine in terms of hardness. It is also a stable wood, so it isn’t prone to expansion with changes in temperature and moisture or cracking. So this combination makes cedar easier to work with and reliable for furniture. And then there are its aromatic qualities. 

 

Shingles

Cedar lumber is commonly used for exterior walls and roofs. The woods’ softness makes it easy to split on the spot, which is a useful feature for fitting wood shingles. Its antifungal qualities also allow it to resist rot, so it lasts longer in outdoor uses. Cedar is light, so the shingles won’t add as much weight to roofs or walls as other woods. Cedar is also a good insulator.

 

Storing Clothes

Cedar lumber is popular for clothing storage furnishings like wardrobes, trunks and chests. One of the reasons why is because the wood has thujaplicin, a naturally occurring antibacterial and antifungal. True cedar and Spanish cedar also have insect-repelling qualities. These are great for protecting clothing. Most cedar often appear as interior panels, serving as liners. Other types like eastern red cedar are strong enough to be used to build whole furniture.

 

Musical Instruments

Western red cedar has resonant qualities and its lightness and stability make it ideal for crafting musical instruments. Guitars, violins and other wood stringed instruments made out of western red cedar are resistant to warping or cracking over time. At the same time the wood gives them the desired acoustic qualities.

 

Paneling

All the mentioned qualities also make western red cedar a top choice for interior paneling for rooms and corridors.

 

Need cedar lumber?

For this type of wood and others, you can contact your friendly lumber supplier in Idaho, Utah and Colorado.