If you can dream it up, we can have it made! We specialize in working with customers with unique building materials needs all over the US.
Because we are located in the heart of Cedar Country, the only place in the world Western Red Cedar and Alaskan Yellow Cedar are natively grown, we can offer superior quality Cedar building materials with exceptional pricing. Whatever you are looking for, if we don’t stock it, chances are we can find a mill to custom make it for you.
We are currently working with a home builder in Half Moon Bay, CA, on an exquisite custom home and are getting ready to ship out this custom milled, clear vertical grain Western Red Cedar rail cap along with more clear cedar T&G cladding for the project.
Starting with the architect’s specs, we had a line drawing created with the customer’s exact measurements to review before starting production.
Once the clear, vertical grain Western Red Cedar rail cap was milled, a filler piece of wood was attached to the bottom to help protect the “legs” during pre-stain and shipment.
Next, the rail cap was pre-stained with Penofin Ultra Premium Red Label in “Cedar”. This will help protect the custom milled Cedar rail cap during shipment, on the job site, and during installation.
A second field coat is recommended before installation on all four sides.
Stay tuned for more amazing photos of this project! And before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!
When it comes to choosing building materials for a remodel or your new custom home, it is hard to beat the natural beauty, versatility, and reliability of Western Red Cedar.
Available in many different grades, Western Red Cedar can be used to customize your home’s exterior with a wide variety of siding patterns, shingles and shakes, as well trim and soffit materials. Because it is pitch and resin-free, it is able to accept a wide range of finishes, from semi-transparent stains that allow the natural wood beauty to shine through to darker stains that show the character (or add a “beachy feel”), as well as traditional solid colors. No matter your unique style, you can be sure when you choose Western Red Cedar, you will be able to create the custom look for your home that is just right for you.
Please enjoy these photos of two custom homes in Anacortes, WA, that we supplied all the exterior Western Red Cedar for. Each house was designed and built by different custom home builders; however, both homeowners choose similar cedar products, including custom stained Western Red Cedar shingles as exterior cladding with painted Cedar trim. By choosing totally different stains for the cedar shingles, along with the other unique details of each home, including the Western Red Cedar fences, you can see how versatile and beautiful Western Red Cedar truly is.
Out of all finishes, paints and solid color stains will provide your Western Red Cedar with the most protection against ultraviolet light and moisture degradation. Paints of all types (water-based, latex, acrylic enamel, and solvent-based) are suitable for Western Red Cedar; however, those with high elasticity will generally perform best. Solid color stains have fewer color solids than paint and will provide good protection while allowing some of the Cedar’s natural characteristics to show through.
Western Red Cedar owes its beauty, color, durability, and resistance to decay and insects to the presence of natural tannins produced during normal growth. These natural extractives in Western Red Cedar are water-soluble and may lead to discoloration of finishes on exposed surfaces. This discoloration is not caused by the stain, the paint, or any manufacturing process.
To minimize the potential for a failing finish, distractive bleed and/or discoloration, only apply a finish to Western Red Cedar when the moisture content of the Cedar has stabilized and dried. Most primer, stain, and paint manufacturers recommend that the Cedar is dried to at least 15%. When opting to use an opaque finish for your project, the BEST Western Red Cedar product choice is one that is kiln dried at the time of manufacture.
Upon arrival at the job site, it is important to take care of how your Cedar will be stored. It should be stored in a climate-controlled area, off the ground and free of moisture and dirt, away from direct sunlight. Maintain low interior humidity levels (this is the most common source of extractive discoloration) and ensure proper ventilation during drywall installation, texture spraying, painting, or any other process which increases the humidity inside the building. Your Cedar should only be installed over dried panels and studs.
Be sure to choose high-quality primers and finishes recommended for use on Western Red Cedar containing mold and mildew inhibitors. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for storage and application. While either alkyd-oil or water-based primers can be used on Western Red Cedar, alkyd-oil-based primers generally provide the most protection against extractive discoloration.
Opaque exterior finishes will perform best when applied over a coat of alkyd-oil primer that has been applied to all sides of the Cedar, including the back and sides PRIOR to installation. In some cases, certain coatings are “1 coat only” applications. However, a second field coating is recommended after the paint, or solid stain has cured for best performance. Generally speaking, stains and paints will last longer on a textured surface rather than smooth.
We primed and double coated these beautiful Cedar Shingles in the customer’s desired color and shipped them to Illinois for this beautiful custom home’s exterior.
Suitability and Expected Service Life of Exterior Finishes applied on Western Red Cedar Siding & Tim as compiled by the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association. Expected life will vary depending on exposure and the quality of products and techniques used for application, especially in extreme climates.
Many of our Western Red Cedar exterior products such as sidewall shingles, siding, and trim are available pre-primed, with low minimums, to save you money and time on the job site! Some products may also be eligible to be custom coated with the paint or stain of your choosing before shipment. Please let our Sales Representative know when inquiring about our products if you will be finishing your Cedar with an opaque finish so that we can discuss all your options. Please visit our blog on that subject by clicking HERE for help and tips to re-finishing your Western Red Cedar; please visit our blog on that subject by clicking HERE.
These 6 Solid Stain Colors of Western Red Cedar Shingles are available by custom order with a one-box minimum
Before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!
As we come and go in our busy daily lives, we often stop seeing our surroundings through other’s eyes. A neglected front porch that accumulates miscellaneous odds and ends may not seem like a big deal, but to a new visitor or potential buyer, it can be a real turn-off. Even on a budget, some small touches, such as a good cleaning and a fresh coat of paint on the front door, can really boost the first impression. And, with the addition of a few furnishings, your porch can add real value, creating a welcoming transitional space between the outdoors and indoors.
Even a small porch can be made to feel welcoming by updating the light fixture, adding a fun little sign, and a well-placed chair, as seen in this picture.
After a good freshening up, consider your porch’s size and your home’s architectural details. You want to make sure people can easily access the steps and front door and not feel crowded with too much furniture or accessories. You will also want to create a style that compliments the exterior of the home and reflects the personality of the home’s interior.
For those lucky enough to have a big front porch, making it into additional usable living space can be challenging. For years, the porch at our house was left totally blank, other than a seasonal wreath on the door and a welcome mat. I had this idea in my head that it needed to be accessorized with beautiful rocking chairs, wicker love seats and tables, fantastic carpets, lush ferns, and gorgeous potted plants just like in the magazines. I wanted it all but wasn’t ready to pay the $2,000+ to create that style. Finally, I began to look at items I already owned and scoured second-hand stores to find items in my budget that would turn my porch from a boring entry to a bonus living area for our home. Now, our front porch has become my favorite room, and I look forward to freshening it up each season by changing the plants and other accessories.
A customer of ours in Florida sent us this picture to let us know how amazing the
custom stained Western Red Cedar Shingles we provided look on her home (p.s. we love
customer photos!). I adore the sweet style she created on her porch with the vintage day bed and loads of pillows. She lives close to the ocean, so the simple addition of some “beachy” accessories completes this outdoor space perfectly. Note how the color palette of accessories complements the shingles, which we custom coated with a semi-transparent stain called Water Lily. So inviting!
So, when you go home tonight, take a good, hard look at your entry and begin to think of items you already own that you might be able to add to bring a little personality and style to your front porch. Scour garage sales or thrift stores for a fun piece of furniture, and maybe add a fresh coat of paint to the piece to bring additional color to your porch. Next, add some softness with pillows, candles (I buy the inexpensive ones at the Dollar Store), seasonal flowers, and accessories.
A well-styled porch welcomes you home every day!
Before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide ~ Specializing in Premium Forest Products in Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir, and other exotic and domestic hard and softwoods.
Made from high-quality Western Red Cedar, renowned for even grain, weather resistance, thermal insulation, and longevity, our pre-stained or pre-primed shingles are available in natural, sanded, and grooved finishes, as well as fancy cuts.
Readily available “off the shelf” (as a special order) in 6 beautiful colors, as well as a transparent Cedar Tone, or in any custom color desired, including treatment with bleaching oil, our pre-stained Western Red Cedar Shingles can add a stunning signature look to any building, combined with lasting durability.
“Off The Shelf” Semi-Solid Oil Stain Colors
Water Lily
Coastal Mist
Iron Stone
Traditional Brick
Beach Pebble
Thisis Brown
Red Cedar Transparent Stain available with a 5-year warranty
Bleached Shingles are a mix of 50/50 Bleaching Oil and Cabot Driftwood Grey Stain
Custom pre-stained shingles are available using a quality brand of oil-based semitransparent, semi-solid, or solid one-coat finishes, including General Paint Products. Custom colors available.
Pre-stain and pre-prime (in grey or white) is available for natural, grooved, sanded, and fancy cut shingles
For more information on the grades, sizes, and definition of Western Red Cedar shingles, please check out our previous blog post by clicking HERE
Installation and Care of Western Red Cedar Shingles
Western Red Cedar Shingles owe their beauty, color, durability, and resistance to decay and insects to the presence of natural tannins produced during normal growth. These natural extractives in Western Red Cedar are water-soluble and may lead to discoloration of finishes on the exposed surface of the shingle. Discoloration from extractives usually appears when moisture from inside the home travels through the shingle to the exposed surface. As the moisture evaporates, it may leave reddish-brown vertical streaks. This discoloration is not caused by the stain, the paint, or any manufacturing process.
Cedar Shingles should always be stored in a dry, well-ventilated location. You must keep
the product dry throughout the application process. You also must take steps to minimize or eliminate interior sources of moisture before and after sidewall shingle application, including, but not limited to the following:
Maintain low interior humidity levels (this is the most common source of extractive discoloration)
Ensure proper ventilation during drywall installation, texture spraying, painting, or any other process which increases the humidity inside the building. It is more likely that extractive bleeding will occur if these processes are not completed prior to the application of the sidewall shingles
Apply over dry panels (OSB or plywood)
Use kiln dried studs
To minimize the potential for extractive discoloration, our supplier ensures that the shingles are dried to a moisture content that is less than 15%. They also coat the entire shingle with a primer, paint, or stain. Shingles coated with an oil-based solid primer that have a finished coat applied over the primer are less likely to experience extractive discoloration. Semi-solid, semi-transparent, and clear stains offer less protection.
Extractive discoloration may also be caused by external sources such as rain, dew, and/or water from a faulty roof and gutter drainage. These water sources combined with dust and other matter may cause stains on the exposed area of the shingle, which is not the failure of the shingle, paint, or stain.
Stain absorption may vary due to the density and/or porosity of old-growth Western Red Cedar fiber, as well as color variations in the actual shingles. The final color of the stain and how it adheres/absorbs into the material will vary. Due to this, color matches are not guaranteed to exactly match any previous sample or order.
In some cases, certain coatings are “1 coat only” applications. However, a second field coating is recommended after the stain has cured for best stain performance. Prior to any field coating, test a small inconspicuous area for proper absorption. Back brushing is recommended. Be sure not to over-apply the stain or paint.
Limited warranties on coating/finishes are offered through the coating/finish manufacturer.
“Off the Shelf” Colors, as well as Pre-Primed & Pre-Stained Shingles are brought in per order and do require a small lead time. Sorry, we are unable to accept any returns or exchanges on special order items, such as these.
Because Western Red Cedar and Alaskan Yellow Cedar is only grown in the Pacific Northwest, where Cedar Country is located, we are YOUR premium source for Cedar Shingles and Shakes. We ship nationwide from one bundle or carton to full truckloads and extremely competitive pricing ~ even with freight.
Looking to save time and money on the job site, as well as protect your siding, trim boards, shingles, shakes, wood decking or Cedar fencing? We can arrange to have your products pre-stained at the factory and delivered to your job site ready to install.
With nearly every color imaginable, from clear products that allow the natural characteristics and colors of the wood to show through, to semi-transparent stains that add a subtle hue, to solid color coatings, the quality of the finish is impossible to duplicate using on-site installation methods. Your material will be completely covered on all sides with a flood coat of stain, in a temperature-controlled environment, free of dust and debris, then back brushed to ensure even absorption and coverage.
The pieces are then placed on racks in a drying room until cured.
In this photo, custom cut Western Red Cedar Airfoils are being individually coated with a penetrating oil
The Western Red Cedar Airfoils are left to dry completely in a drying room before packing up for shipment
No waiting for perfect weather! No over-spray, uneven application, or streaking! Having your materials coated prior to coming to the job site will help them stay cleaner, as well as help protect them during installation.
And save you money!
Stain absorption may vary due to the density and/or porosity of the Western Red Cedar or other wood fibers. The final color and how it adheres/absorbs into the material will vary. Due to this, color matches are not guaranteed to match any previous sample or order exactly.
A second field coat of finish following installation is required.
Generally, your order will be ready to ship in 10 to 14 days, ready for installation. To get the order going, we do require a deposit at the time the order is placed. Sorry, we cannot cancel a custom order once it has been placed.
For more information, please call us at 360.757.6343 to discuss.
