Eastern Red Cedar
From structural beams and mantles, to side-lapping and trim, Eastern Red Cedar stands out with contrasting shades of red.
Tree Traits
If you grew up on a Central Texas farm, you’ll never forget the aromatic scent of our favorite Christmas tree commonly called “cedar”.
Technically, this dark green conifer is a juniper with tiny blue compacted cones that look like small berries. The berries serve as a critical food source for birds and many mammals.
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Cedars can be seen almost everywhere across the countryside, in both open pastures and deep in the woods.
These evergreens are very slow growers, typically only reaching about 40 feet at maturity.
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However, in thick old growth forests, cedars can grow almost twice that height where they compete to reach for sunlight.
Unique Benefits
Beyond its many uses in construction, cedar has a long list of benefits ranging from medicinal treatments to insect repellents.
Of course, cedar chests and cedar lined closets have been around for centuries dating back to ancient times. Its distinct aromatic fragrance freshens home and clothes, while taking moisture out of the air, preventing mold and mildew.
Structurally, cedar timber really stands out with sharply contrasting colors consisting of bright reds mixed with marbling of lighter cream colors.
Their boards and beams tend to be very stable with less warping compared to many other softwoods. With the additional benefit of rot resistance, you’ll find cedar highly desirable for outdoor furniture, roofing, lap siding, trim & molding, trusses and large structural beams.