Canadian Western Red Cedar Cladding

A popular cladding choice for modern buildings, Canadian cedar cladding is lightweight, stable and relatively free of knots.

Style

Contemporary / modern

Profiles

All machined profiles

Source

Canada

Beware

Colour variation

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Canadian Western Red Cedar Cladding

Canadian Western Red Cedar Cladding Features

Canadian western red cedar remains a popular choice for timber cladding, valued for its refined appearance and reliable performance. Its relatively knot-free finish and consistent colour make it particularly well suited to contemporary designs where a clean, uniform look is desired.

Naturally durable and stable, Canadian cedar cladding performs well in external applications, including areas where maintaining straight, even lines is important, such as screening and detailed timber façades.

Growing more slowly than British cedar, Canadian material tends to be denser, with a deeper, richer tone. This gives it a distinctive aesthetic, though it typically comes at a higher cost due to both slower growth and the distance it must travel.

For projects that prioritise a clear, low-knot appearance, Canadian western red cedar cladding remains an excellent option, offering a balance of beauty, durability and long-term performance.

Watch our short film comparing Canadian and British grown western red cedar

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Canadian western red cedar cladding specification

Canadian Cedar Cladding from Vastern Timber

Canadian western red cedar
Thuja plicata
Sourced from legal and well-managed forests in Canada. PEFC certified.
Supplied by Vastern Timber (sales@vastern.co.uk)
Grade BS1186-3 Class 1 / EN942:2007 J20
Finished thickness of 18mm
Overall finished widths 65mm / 90mm / 140mm
Random lengths 1.8mt – 4.0mt+, allowing small % down to 1.5mt
Available in various machined profiles
Moisture content of 16 – 20%
Durability EN350-2 Durable. Class 2
Supplied uncoated. No treatment required.

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Characteristics of Canadian western red cedar cladding

Appearance
Canadian western red cedar has a strong, distinctive grain. The colours vary widely from dark chocolate brown to light pink. The boards are relatively free of knots giving a clean and contemporary appearance

Weathering
When left untreated, cedar will bleach to a silver colour although the process can be inconsistent and patchy. Northerly elevations may weather to a darker grey than those facing South.

Desired service life
Occasionally wet 60 yrs. Frequently wet 30 yrs.

Movement class
Small

Resistance to impact
Low

Working properties
Good workability. Takes fixings satisfactorily. Cedar is soft and relatively brittle which can result in bruising and splintering. No pre-drilling necessary.

Density
330 – 390 Kg / Cm3

Extractives
Western red cedar contains reactive oils, which will corrode ferrous metals. All fixings used in conjunction with western red cedar must be stainless steel. The brown oil can leave unsightly brown stains on the surface of the cladding and will stain any porous materials below the cladding. The reactivity of the oil makes western red cedar cladding unsuitable for polluted areas and shaded areas

Installation of cedar cladding boards

How to fix western red cedar cladding
Pre-drill and fix boards with stainless steel nails or trim head screws through the face or through the tongue of suitable profiles. Pilot drill to avoid splitting the wood.

Create a 2mm expansion gap between following boards.

For more information, visit the resource centre

Recommended battens for cedar cladding
Profiled Thermowood or treated softwood battens are recommended for use behind cedar cladding.

The minimum thickness of primary battens should be 40mm. Horizontal battens to have an angled top face to shed water.

Find out more about our Thermowood batten system

Batten spacing for external timber cladding
400 – 500mm

Fixings for western red cedar cladding
Only use stainless steel fixings for external cladding.

For fixing red cedar cladding we recommend 50mm ring shank nails or trim head screws for face fixing and 40mm for hidden fixing through the tongue.

When to fix western red cedar cladding
Red cedar is a relatively stable timber and can be installed year round.

Resistance to fixing
Low.

Canadian western red cedar cladding profiles

We machine timber cladding to the profile of your choice. View our full range of cladding profiles

We recommend the following profiles for Canadian cedar.

Disclaimer

While the utmost care has been taken to provide accurate information, Vastern Timber shall not be held responsible for any consequences arising from any errors or omissions on this website nor for any damages resulting from the use of the information.