Cedar trees grow in the Pacific Northwest of North America where weather is damp, and where fungus, microorganisms, and insects subject trees to destructive conditions. Trees such as the cedar tree have developed self-protective qualities that allow the tree to fend off insects, rot and temperature related stresses. That makes cedar wood very useful as home building material where humidity, temperature, and cracking are a common problem.

The two primary areas where cedar trees are harvested are in Washington State and in British Columbia, Canada. Western Red Cedar is the most preferred form of cedar and is perfect for use as home cedar siding. As a building material, it comes in different grades of quality ranging from clear or heartwood, to knotty.

Cedar Wood Benefits

Cedar wood has remarkable dimensional stability. This means the wood doesn't change its size or dimension despite weather, humidity or temperature conditions. Many types of wood will warp when subjected to moisture, but cedar stays straight and flat which makes it perfect for house siding. Many clear cedar wood products can be stained and painted and not lose their beautiful grained appearance. Cedar siding too if painted expertly under the correct conditions, will retain the grain texture with a color that pleases the homeowner.

Cedar is a light, porous type of wood. This gives it a high insulating value perfect for use as a home siding product. The porous wood also allows it to absorb noise. This can be beneficial when used as fencing or siding. These are two more reasons why cedar siding is in such high demand. It is also an elegant and prestigious type of house finishing product that lasts a long time. Cedar stands up to moisture, resisting rot and resisting insect damage better than other woods.

Cedar Building Products

Cedar is used in many building products including; siding, decking, fencing, shingles, gazebos, sheds, doors, windows, blinds, shutters, and garden planters. As a decking lumber, cedar compares favorably to pine and spruce, yet still cannot achieve the durability and maintenance free ease that composite decking offers. Cedar products can be left with out a finish or paint applied, however it will need periodic maintenance. In some cases, homeowners want their cedar building products to be stained or painted in order to match their home's decor.

Cedar is also used in house trim and moulding. Again, it can be used, as it is natural with a stained finish or may be specially primed and painted.

Beveled cedar siding produced by re-sawing lumber at an angle. This creates a board that is thicker on one edge than the other. The usual cedar manufacturing process creates a board with one face saw textured and the other face smooth.

Bevel cedar siding is installed horizontally and gives an attractive shadow line, which varies with the thickness of siding selected.

Other Types of siding tries to mimic Cedar's properties but none have been able to compare to cedar with its richness of grain and texture and its ability to retain fasteners.

CedarPrime Cedar Siding

CedarPrime home siding is a superior quality cedar siding product that is primed under exacting, temperature and humidity-controlled conditions. The end result for the homeowner is a house siding that matches their home's exterior style and which will last for years. It comes in a beveled design that allows improved installation. An alkyd oil-based primer is used as the priming coat and is applied to all six sides of the board. It comes in 16-foot lengths, perfect for lessening butt joints in the siding wall.