Cedar wood is widely known for its wonderful aroma and insect-repelling quality. The oil inside the wood emits an earthy, woodsy and slightly sweet scent that has made it a favorite choice for hot tubs, saunas and even within the sensory palette of your favorite colognes.
The Janka scale ranks all wood for hardness, with a higher number correlating with a harder wood. The rating for white pine, one of the most common varieties, is 420. Yellow pine earns an 870, while cedar comes in at an even 900. For the sake of comparison, red oak gets a 1,290 on the Janka scale.
Look at the Needles
They're easy to distinguish from needles on pine trees, which are longer and thinner. Cedar needles can differ a bit in color between species. For example, needles on the Eastern Red Cedar are bluish-green, while those on the Northern White Cedar tend to be more yellow, especially on young branches.Cedarwood, USA, Eden Botanicals – Virginia cedar or red cedar is dry, aromatic, dusty, diffusive, deep. This is the classic “pencil shavings” or “cedar closet” aroma. Cedarwood: a very elegant smoky woodnote, dusty, clean and remniscent of pencil shavings.
Pine and cedar are both softwoods, which means the trees are evergreens or conifers. Even though they're called softwoods, they're actually very strong. Yellow pine earns an 870, while cedar comes in at an even 900.
To start growing pine trees from seed, gather large brown (or slightly green) cones in fall. The cones should be closed; if open, they probably have already released their seeds. Toogood says trees that have a lot of cones are more likely to have viable seeds. When dry, the cones will open and release their seeds.
Ponderosa, Monterey, and lodgepole pine are reported to be toxic, and also Norfolk island pine, balsam fir, and yew pine (these three are not really true pines). Most pines can be used to make tea from the needles which have a lot of vitamin C and other antioxidants.
Cypress trees have a distinctive odor when cut. Some describe the odor as earthy; others say it smells like cedar and a few references call the odor sour. The wood can also be greasy to the touch.
Cedar is a stable wood fence material, that does not warp, shrink or check. Cedar wood fences tend to last longer than pressure treated pine board fences. This pressure treated pine is guaranteed by the manufacturer not to decay or have insect damage for 20 years or more.
Cost. While cedar wood is less expensive than some similar lumbers, such as redwood, it is still incredibly costly. As the University of Minnesota mentions, it costs on average about twice as much as pressure treated lumbers, such as yellow pine and fir.
Cedar decks last 15 to 20 years, compared to 10 to 15 years for pressure-treated wood.
Cedar is rarer, which is why it's more expensive than pine- however, because it is low maintenance and aesthetically pleasing it's more of an investment.
The Pros: Due to the nature of the wood's sap, Cedar is naturally rot resistant and does not readily absorb moisture. Cedar doesn't absorb moisture easily, making it less likely to warp or split over time. Cedar decking is affordable.
2) Cedar and redwood are rot resistant.
Not all siding, decking and trim made from cedar, redwood or other species famous for durability are in fact rot resistant. Only the heartwood of certain species is naturally decay resistant. Untreated sapwood of virtually all species has very little decay resistance.cedar, pressure-treated wood is the sturdier and more weather-proof of the two. It's highly resistant to insect attack and rot, and special versions rated for “ground contact” can be buried in soil and will continue to shrug off decay for decades.
Sealing Exterior Cedar
Because of its rot-resistance and stability, cedar used for outdoor projects, such as furniture, fences, siding and play structures, lasts for years without any finish. But in direct sunlight, cedar retains its natural color for only a few months. Apply the sealant or stain to clean, dry cedar.Cedar mulch is exceptionally long lasting so it does not need to be replaced as often as other varieties. Cypress Mulch is an aesthetically pleasing, light colored mulch that is also aromatic. It naturally repels insects and has natural fungus resistance. It is long lasting like cedar.
Old-growth cypress is rated as being very durable -- more durable than cedar -- but it's hard to find and expensive. Younger cypress is rated as moderately durable. Cedar has a pleasant, aromatic scent while being worked, while freshly cut cypress has a somewhat sour odor.
Pecky cypress is one of the most valuable southern U.S. woods simply because a fungus creates a pattern of pockets, that when sawn for lumber, people find very appealing. Pecky cypress doors, garage doors, and furniture is unique and there is a significant demand for it.
Western Red Cedar is one of the world's most durable woods, as it has a natural resistance to moisture, decay and insect damage. Northern White Cedar is the lightest of any commercial wood in the United States. It is even-grained and finely textured. The heartwood is resistant to decay and subterranean termites.
Cedar is an especially strong wood that is not prone to warping or sagging. Consider cedar items when you want furniture with a rustic look and exceptional durability. Because of its strength, cedar furniture can last for around 30 years. For outdoor use, cedar furniture is widely viewed as a good choice.
Cedar, Spiders and Options
Cedar wood is more resistant to insect infestation than other types of wood, although the resistance is enhanced by staining and treating the wood. The EPA lists cedar oil as a minimum risk pesticide. But this doesn't apply to arachnids.Like cedar, redwood is used mostly for outdoor projects because of its resistance to moisture. Redwood (California redwood) is fairly soft and has a straight grain.
Pine Fence Pros
Better material for posts - Although cedar is overall the more durable of the two materials, pressure-treated pine stands up better when it is exposed to soil. Because of this, most cedar fences have posts that are made of pressure-treated pine and boards made of cedar.You will find it commonly used in decking, siding, shingles, fence panels, and garden materials. These uses are great because of its natural ability to resist wood rot and bugs. You can also find it very commonly used for aquatic purposes. Saunas, boats, canoe ribs, and even ships use white cedar in their construction.
Cedar is widely used for both indoor and outdoor furnishing. Cedar contains natural oils which helps it repel moisture and humidity, therefore it is naturally resistant to decay and insects. When combined with its lightness and stability, it is used to craft musical instruments because of its resonant qualities.
3.Wood Strength (You are here.)
| Wood Species | Specific Gravity* | Compressive Strength (psi) |
|---|
| Cedar, Aromatic Red | 0.47 | 6,020 |
| Cedar, Western Red | 0.32 | 4,560 |
| Cedar, White | 0.32 | 3,960 |
| Cypress | 0.46 | 6,360 |
They do have a distinctive smell, but nothing like red cedar. The smell is mostly from the fresh cut wood, and will fade away after a couple months. White cedar is your best bet for logs. It holds finish much better than pine, and has zero sap issues.
Cedar is aromatic.
Simply put, the stuff smells good. Additionally, although there are a lot of woods that have a characteristic odor, that of cedar tends to linger much longer than most other woods.Pressure-treated wood is made from pine, which often shows imperfections such as knots and splits. Cedar tends to be smoother and unblemished and is also less likely to warp.
Most male cedars have reddish-to-brown flowers, although blooms on the male Atlantic White Cedar are red to yellow, while those on the Northern White Cedar are green, with petals tipped brown. Female cedar trees usually have small greenish flowers although some, such as the Eastern Red Cedar, have blue blossoms.
Best wood for furniture are Oak, Teak, Cherry, Maple, Teak, and Mahogany. Oak is excellent as well as durable wood for furniture. It is beautiful but can yellow over time. By contrast, red oak is slightly darker and porous.
Dip one end of a stain application pad in the cedar-colored wood stain and apply it in even strokes to the surface of the pine item. Protect flooring with drop cloths.
PINE: Pine is a softwood which grows in most areas of the Northern Hemisphere. There are more than 100 species worldwide. Properties: Pine is a soft, white or pale yellow wood which is light weight, straight grained and lacks figure. It resists shrinking and swelling.
