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British western red cedar

British western red cedar shiplap cladding

British Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata) Durable Softwood

The majority of western red cedar seen in this country is imported from North America and Canada. However, British Western red cedar has been grown in our woodlands for over one hundred years and the mature trees are available for conversion. As North American cedar becomes increasingly expensive, our British cedar offers a significantly cheaper alternative and avoids the substantial environmental impact of shipping American timber to the UK.

Freshly cut or machined British western red cedar has an amber colouring with frequent small- to medium-sized dark knots. British cedar is faster grown than imported cedar and therefore softer. When left untreated, cedar will bleach to a silver colour. Unlike most other coniferous softwoods, western red cedar does not contain any resin and can take a range of paints, oils and stains.

Western red cedar is the most popular choice for untreated cladding because of its excellent durability, stability, and volume to weight ratio.

The durability of cedar results from the naturally occurring thujaplicins, which create the distinctive aroma and are toxic to fungi. Studies at Imperial College London have shown that British-grown western red cedar is equally as durable as imported cedar.

Western red cedar is the most stable of all softwoods, with a very low tendency to shrink, warp, twist or check.

The low density of cedar has many benefits. The wood is very light, making it easy to move and install. The open cell structure gives the wood excellent thermal and acoustic properties. However, Western red cedar is a relatively soft and brittle wood, which can easily be damaged if knocked or scraped.

The natural oils in western red cedar have a corrosive effect on ferrous metals, so care should be taken to select galvanized or stainless-steel fixings, which are non-corrosive.
BS EN 350-2 Western red cedar is classed as durable and does not require treatment for external use, as long as the sap is excluded. Experience has shown that the sapwood is in fact suitably durable for external use. However, the application of an oil-based treatment such as ‘Fiddes High Build Wood Oil’ will help to prolong the life of the cladding.

Workability: Can be nailed and screwed easily without splitting. No pre-drilling necessary. Takes finishes well.

Available with FSC certification
British-grown