Red cedar, also known as western red cedar or Canadian red cedar, with its distinctive scent, is widely used in construction, particularly for wood cladding and interior wall cladding projects. A noble, attractive and durable wood, western red cedar is ideal for exceptional projects.
In this guide, find all the answers from our expert Yvon Debeaumont on Red Cedar wood cladding.
Western red cedar is a noble, durable wood. Western red cedar is a very soft wood with a fine to medium grain and a generally straight, regular grain from a large coniferous tree, the largest specimens of which can reach 70 metres in height.
With its botanical name of Thuya plicata, which belongs to the Cupressaceae family, western red cedar is mainly found between 39 and 57 degrees north latitude. Western red cedar is found mainly in British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. It is also found in Alaska and as far south as California.
| Origin | Canada - North America |
| Class of use | class 3.2 outside sapwood |
| Certification | PEFC certified |
| Type | very light, robust wood |
| Density | 370 kg / m3 at 12% humidity |
| Durability | Very good, class II natural durability. Longevity of 50 years for use in wood cladding. |
| Suggested quality | Clear 2 |
| Colour | from light (yellow) brown through pinkish brown to reddish brown, flames on the back |
| Dimensional stability | very good stability |
| Use | structures (garden sheds, greenhouses, frameworks), exteriors (cladding), interiors (parquet flooring, joinery, panelling) |
From an aesthetic point of view, red cedar siding is characterised by a colour with many variations. Shades range from yellow beige to reddish brown, pinkish brown and chocolate brown. The grain of western red cedar is characterised by alternating striations. The colour variations of western red cedar siding give a unique and original look to buildings.
Western red cedar siding is characterised by its fine to medium grain, straight grain and virtually no knots.
Red cedar siding is very light and dimensionally stable. With an average density of 370 kg/m3 and low density, western red cedar lends itself to applications where weight is a key factor, such as Tiny Houses.
Thanks to the presence of natural essential oils in the wood, red cedar is extremely resistant to insect attack. In fact, cedar has been used for decades in our wardrobes to protect our clothes from moth attack.
Used in wood cladding, red cedar will last for more than 50 years.
In short, western red cedar is :
The different qualities of western red cedar
In Europe, red cedar is imported in different qualities:
As a living material, without a finish, any type of wood will turn a natural grey. Red cedar is no exception to this rule. Without a finish, red cedar will develop a silvery-grey patina that will in no way affect its durability.
Red cedar is a naturally rot-proof wood. It contains essential oils that act as an insect and fungus repellent. Red cedar is also highly resistant to mould attack.
Would you like to know how to protect your red cedar siding and keep its original colour? To prevent your red cedar wood cladding from greying naturally, you need to protect it from the elements and the sun with a saturator or woodstain.
The most commonly used finishing products are saturators, woodstains and paints. Paints and woodstains are film-forming products that cover the boards of red cedar wood cladding. The effect will be more covering and the wood's distinctive features will therefore be much better concealed.
At Sivalbp, we advise you to opt for a saturator. A non-film-forming finishing product, saturator deeply impregnates the wood fibres without masking the wood's distinctive features, for optimum, long-lasting protection.
Vertical installation of red cedar cladding is suitable for all types of façade. Focus on vertical open-joint of red cedar claddinginstallation . This involves fixing boards with spaces between them to facilitate ventilation. The result is vertical openwork Red Cedar cladding. This protects the wood from potential moisture build-up and premature deterioration. This technique gives an elegant look to your home or building, with a visual impression of slenderness and finesse. It also facilitates rainwater drainage.
The horizontal installation technique for red cedar wood cladding gives your façade a stretched effect.
Of all the wood species used for timber façade cladding, red cedar is undoubtedly the leading and most upmarket. Often used for exceptional architectural projects or by demanding homeowners, red cedar is a top-of-the-range product.
Are you planning to install Red Cedar exterior wood cladding? To find out everything you need to know about the price per m² of red cedar wood, check out our cladding prices.
Red Cedar and Larch are two robust, stable and durable wood species. They differ in a number of ways. Larch cladding has a blond-orange colour that contrasts with the variegated colour of red cedar. Red Cedar wood cladding is much lighter than Larch wood cladding. Its distinctive features (graining, nodosity) are much more pronounced.
| Wood species | Price | Singularities | Wood aspect | Ageing | Use of class | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Red Cedar | €€€€ | Fine grain, 95% knot-free blades | Contrasting colours (yellow, brown, pink, chocolate) | **** | 3 | Canada |
| Larch | €€€ | Fine veining, medium knots | Yellow to pink with red veins | **** | 3 | Europe |
By choosing from our range of finished red cedar cladding, you can be sure of a PEFC-certified product from sustainably managed forests. For all your exterior and interior design projects, choose red cedar cladding from the ranges we offer at Sivalbp.
Discover our various ranges of western red cedar wood cladding:
Choose our Western Red Cedar wood cladding from the Elegance range for saturated wood tones. Thanks to our non-film-forming saturator, Red Cedar wood cladding respects the wood's distinctive features and retains its natural appearance.
As a reminder, without finishing, wood will turn a natural grey. If you want to anticipate the effects of time, choose our New Age range of Red Cedar wood cladding. Our range of grey-tone saturators will add a contemporary touch to your facades and ensure even ageing over time.
If you want to leave your red cedar wood cladding natural and unfinished, our Authentic range of red cedar wood cladding is for you. After a few years of exposure, Sivalbp Red Cedar siding from our Authentic range will evolve towards a natural greying. The wood cladding will take on an attractive silver-grey patina.
If you would like more advice and information about our Red Cedar wood cladding products, please do not hesitate to contact our wood experts.
