Collection: Cedar Slabs

The term “cedar” is broadly applied to many types of wood, including “false cedars.” Among them all, the most popular are northern (or eastern) white and western or eastern red cedar. From its many adjectives, like in color or origin, here is the northern white cedar in focus.

 

Common Names: northern white cedar, eastern white-cedar, swamp cedar, arborvitae

Short Description: Cedar is a softwood that is dimensionally stable and dry with a lesser shrinkage tendency. It has the trademark spicy scent of cedars but is milder than its red counterpart. The grain is straight and fine with a natural luster.

Country of Origin: Northeastern North America

Color: Light brown to light reddish-brown heartwood with white and narrow sapwood often non differentiable from its heartwood.

Janka Scale Hardness: 320 lbf (1,420 N)

Dried Average Weight: 22 lbs/ft³ (350 kg/m³)

Common Uses: shingles, fence, post, railroad ties, home furniture, countertops, canoes, pulpwood, cabin logs, paneling, novelties

 

What Is Cedar Wood?

Cedar is a popular wood used for flooring and interior and exterior works. Many people favor it for its pleasant aroma, and it distinguishes the make of the furniture from other woods. Cedar has medium strength and low stiffness, making it easily workable with any tool.

 

Its wood is quite soft and weak but works well with saw, nails, glue, paint, and finishes. Cedar is a versatile wood that weathers well and is aesthetically attractive for edifices. Use it for everything from coffee tables to a cutting board or charcuterie board.

 

Where Does Cedar Come From?

White cedar (Thuja occidentalis) is a small to medium-sized tree of the Cupressaceae or cypress family. They are abundant in coniferous swamps, wet forests, and places with cooler summers. The tree is grown for ornamentals or sourced for its aromatic wood.

 

The cedar tree is native to the northeastern north United States and the adjacent forest of Eastern Canada.

 

Is Cedar a Softwood or Hardwood?

Cedar is a gymnosperm that classifies it as a softwood, including the stronger and more durable eastern and western red variety. The yellow and Spanish cedar varieties, however, are dicots and are considered a hardwood.

 

How Dense Is Cedar?

The northern cedar species is one of the lightest and softest woods besides balsa. White cedar has a density of 315 kg/m³, which is less than half the density of water. Its lightweight mass is due to the microscopic air pockets that give it more insulation value. Its density is constant, and it can resist swelling, warping, and twisting, unlike other soft and hardwoods.

 

What to Look for When Purchasing Cedar

Cedar is a popular wood but is also confusing because of its many species and varieties. Live edge cedar slabs have a natural color variation but are always identifiable by their spicy scents.  When buying cedar, you will notice a difference in its grading. Clear grades labeled either A or B refers to a fine and smooth live edge wood slab ideal for modern design.

 

Choose live edge cedar slabs labeled as knotty-grade are textured with notable imperfections for more rustic designs.

 

How to Care for Cedar

Cedar is long-lasting and ages rather gracefully. Unfinished northern white cedar will change into silver over time. Maintain cedar-made furniture by cleaning it with detergent and water with a soft rag.

 

Use mild bleach on stubborn mildews but avoid any abrasives. Test on a small and inconspicuous part of the furniture first to ensure that the cleaner does not discolor the material.

 

FAQs

Is cedar a good option for outdoor furniture?

Cedar is best for many outdoor applications because it is weather and rot resistant. But like most woods, it will still encounter natural decay and depreciation over some time.

 

Is cedar good for tonewood?

Cedar is a popular top material for many classical and acoustic guitars, with its ability to dampen vibrations. However, there are better choices for fretboards and necks. Western red and Spanish cedars are the most commonly used in guitar tonewoods among all the cedars.

 

Where to Buy Cedar

Red and white cedar are sustainably harvested and commercially available in many stalls. However, they are often available in smaller sizes of lumber. Live edge cedar slabs are also available in specialty stores like Alderfer Lumber Company Inc. A white cedar live edge slab is  usually smaller and pricier than red cedar slab because they are challenging to obtain given their smaller trunk dimension.

 

Alderfer is a distributor of domestic and exotic woods suited for many woodworking applications. We offer a wide range of sustainably sourced and domestically harvested timber. Most of these woods are fast-selling, but we can look into our inventory for their availability for you.

 

If you can’t find the cedar and sizes that you need, do not hesitate to give us a call. You may also email us the SKU number of the specific wood you need to check their availability.