Trending Now – Natural Exterior Wood Cladding

Aug8

Whether it is new construction or updating the look of a commercial or residential building, using natural wood siding to add a more modern look and feel is gaining popularity. With so many options in Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, and other domestic hard and softwoods, the possibilities are endless to create a more natural, welcoming appearance for any building with wood cladding.

A true example of crafted modernism, this rustic home located in eastern Washington is cladded with a mix of our knotty Western Red Cedar and metal, along with concrete and steel elements to create an appealing façade that blends in with the natural surroundings, as well as help to protect the home against wildfires. See more photos of this project by visiting the builder’s website, Impel Construction.

Knotty Western Red Cedar and Metal Siding protect this home against wildfires

architecture by Designs Northwest Architects, photo courtesy of Colin Sands

When paired with a medium or dark color, natural wood siding instantly modernizes an existing building. In these photos, our friends at La Conner Dental replaced portions of the existing siding on their commercial building with our 1×4” clear Western Red Cedar tongue and groove paneling to create an upscale, yet charming exterior.

Totally on-trend, and only getting hotter, is creating entrances to both homes and businesses that are inviting with depth and dimension. Used to accentuate the front porch and entry, our clear, vertical grain engineered veneer Western Red Cedar T&G extends a warm welcome to the homeowners and guests alike.

craftsmanship by Dihedral Builders

Adding natural wood timbers and beams and natural wood paneling to the underside of porches and overhangs provides guests with shelter against the weather. Our Douglas Fir timbers and natural Western Red Cedar T&G create visual interest to this new home’s covered entry in this photo.

Doug Fir Timbers and Clear Cedar Soffit entryway

built by Brown and Sons, Inc

By mixing warm, organic-looking clear, mixed grain, Western Red Cedar with cool metal, the Craft Stove building entrance in Mount Vernon, WA, draws customers into their new showroom.

clear Western Red Cedar and metal siding warm this commercial building

craftsmanship by Chad Fisher Construction

Used to draw the outdoors in and keep the momentum of a seamless design, real Western Red Cedar is used on the interior walls and ceiling, as well as the exterior of this custom home in Malibu, CA. The clear, vertical grain Cedar T&G used on the exterior of the home was pre-treated for fire resistance. Learn more about the process for this by clicking HERE

We are so pleased to see this trend that includes natural wood and earthier elements and would be happy to discuss adding our natural wood products to your next project! We ship nationwide!

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington WA

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

Ribbon Coursing of Cedar Sidewall Shingles

Jun17

The natural beauty, longevity, and durability of Western Red Cedar have made it a popular choice for exterior siding since man began building structures. It is light, easy to work with, and comes in a variety of patterns and textures that allow designers, architects, builders, and homeowners to customize an exterior that is perfect for their particular project.

Because of the many grades and sizes and ways that they can be installed to create a custom look, Cedar Shingles are an especially popular siding choice. In this photo, the pre-primed #1 R&R (re-edged and re-jointed) Western Red Cedar Shingles we provided for this historical restoration were installed using a method called “Ribbon Coursing”.

When applying ribbon coursing, the double shadow line is created by raising the outer course of cedar shingles approximately 1″ above the under coursing. It is recommended that only #1 shingles be used in this application.

Butt nail all double coursed cedar shingles that are installed with more than their maximum single course recommended exposure. For our 18″ #1 Western Red Cedar shingles, 7″ is the maximum recommended exposure for a single course. When installing any Western Red Cedar building materials, be sure to use corrosion-resistant fasteners.

Before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington WA

CCA Pressure Treated Cedar Shingles and Shakes

Mar25

While naturally resistant to rot and decay, Western Red Cedar shingles and shakes that have been treated with Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) will add years to the life of your roof or siding.

Invented in the early 1930s, CCA treatments protect wood against insect attack and fungal decay and is expected to give life to the wood in excess of forty years. This can be extremely helpful in areas with high humidity to provide longevity to cedar roofing, utility, highway, marine, agricultural and heavy construction. CCA preservative treatments render the wood useless as a food substance for insects and fungi yet keeps the natural look of the wood. As a matter of fact, it is almost impossible to tell that the wood has even been treated when finished.

Since CCA pressure treatments have been around for so long, many studies have been done to ensure its safety by both private and public research institutions. At no time have any special risks been found, and it is not toxic to plants. However, it should not be used in direct contact with food, nor should it be burned. As with any wood, a dust mask should be worn when sawing or working with CCA-treated cedar shingles and shakes.

If you are interested in pricing on Western Red Cedar shingles or shakes with CCA preservative treatments, please give us a call or send an email to sales@cclumber.com

Before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington WA

360.757.6343

Cedar and other Wood Specialty Patterns

Mar11

If you can dream it up or need to match up a wood pattern that is no longer made, we work with a team of skilled mills that can help you achieve the custom pattern you desire or need in Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir and just about any other hard or softwood. From exterior siding and cladding patterns to interior or exterior paneling, to airfoils and louvers, truly dimensional lumber…and everything else in between!

Custom Douglas Fir T&G Paneling adds warmth to this waiting room

Historical Wood Patterns

As the decades have passed, trends, as well as manufacturing practices, have come and gone in building materials. When the time comes for restoring or repairing wood in vintage or historical buildings, it can often be difficult to find truly dimensional lumber and/or match old wood patterns.

Whether it be exterior siding patterns, interior wall, or decking patterns that need to be matched up, we can help! The best place to start is to get us a sample of the pattern that needs to be matched, such as this double tongue and groove that measures 3-1/2” x 5-1/2” that was manufactured from clear Western Red Cedar well over 100 years ago. By carefully inspecting and measuring this sample, we were able to have this double tongue and groove timber created to the exact specifications of the piece that was provided for the historical restoration after a recent fire.

New Wood Patterns

With the current trend in custom building and remodeling, including so much exterior and interior paneling for accent walls and ceilings and lining closets and bathrooms, if there is a specific wood pattern your architect has dreamed up that hasn’t been done before, we can help! Since it hasn’t been produced before, a line drawing is created before production with the exact measurements noted, and a recommendation of what grade and species of wood would work best for the application will be discussed.

Note in this pattern that a special bevel is added to the profile to drain water away since this T&G will be used outdoors as cladding. We recommended that this pattern be manufactured out of clear Western Red Cedar for optimum performance.

Another new trend we are seeing quite a lot of in commercial building, as well as residential, is the use of wood louvers. Naturally beautiful with the look that only real wood can provide. Whether it be boards cut to specific dimensions or shaped into airfoils, such as this one, we work with mills that specialize in creating the perfectly sized and shaped louvers for your project in Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir, or most any other soft or hardwood desired.

To save money and time on the job, we can arrange to have your specialty wood pattern pre-primed or stained in almost any color imaginable!

Before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington WA

Matching and Creating Historical Wood Siding Patterns

Feb27

As a specialty building materials distributor, one of our areas of expertise is in assisting our customers in creating unique siding patterns out of Cedar or Douglas Fir, as well as matching historical wood siding patterns that are no longer commonly used. Our staff is well trained and versed in helping customers throughout the United States in matching wood siding patterns to maintain a building’s historical architectural details. From custom shiplap patterns to log cabin sidings, tongue and groove patterns to channel sidings, we work closely with our customers to ensure the old world charm and exact specifications needed are met.

Just recently, we were contacted to help match this clear, vertical grain Western Red Cedar 10” drop siding (also referred to as Dutch Lap Siding) for a repair that needs to be done on a very old cabin. Since drop siding is no longer commonly produced in a 10” profile in Western Red Cedar, we are working with the contractor to make just enough of the cedar siding to make the repair in the most cost-effective manner possible to maintain the look of the cabin. In this case, since the siding is painted, it can be easier to create something that will look exactly the same as the existing siding when the new pieces are installed and coated.

Other projects we have had the pleasure of working with include providing this fully dimensional 5/4×12” clear, vertical grain Western Red Cedar planks for a historical restoration of a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Michigan. The Clear Cedar planks are installed directly over mahogany strips, just exactly as Frank designed the look many years ago.

Need help matching a siding pattern? Our process begins by carefully examining a piece of the existing siding. It is carefully measured, and a “line drawing” is created and submitted to our customer for review.

Next, we discuss the options of what material will be used to create the wood siding. As mentioned previously, if the siding is to be painted, we have more options of grade and how the material will be manufactured. If the siding will be left natural or stained, it will be of utmost importance to match the species and grade of wood exactly to what is on the building. We specialize in providing custom siding patterns in Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir, and other exotic and domestic hard and softwoods.

Before your next project, be sure to visit us!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington, WA 98233

We ship nationwide!

Clear, Vertical Grain Western Red Cedar Engineered T&G

Jan15

Approved for interior and exterior applications, engineered Western Red Cedar tongue and groove paneling are clearer and stronger than what nature can provide. Hand-selected for the best appearance, thin pieces of Clear, Vertical Grain Western Red Cedar are applied to quality knotty Western Red Cedar using the same techniques and glue used to make other engineered building materials rated for exterior use.

Knotty Back of Engineered Cedar Tongue and Groove Paneling

Knotty Cedar Substrate

100% Clear, Vertical Grain Western Red Cedar T&G face
Lower in cost than solid stock Cedar
Nailed, sanded, and sawn just like regular wood
Very stable. Minimal shrinking, twisting, cupping, or splitting
Saves time and waste on the job site
Available in 1×6” in specified lengths up to 16’ in three T&G profiles “Micro V”, “Fine Line” and “Flush” (1×4″ currently unavailable, but coming soon)
10-year Limited Warranty
Pre-finishing services available
Custom profiles and lengths available by special order

All the Western Red Cedar used to produce this Clear, Vertical Grain engineered T&G comes from responsibly managed forests, and no-urea-formaldehyde is used in the laminating process. Perfect for exterior cladding or soffits, as well as interior wall or ceiling details, engineered Western Red Cedar tongue and groove paneling will provide many years of beautiful service.

Engineered Clear Western Red Cedar Paneling for Exterior Use

photo and craftsmanship by Dihedral Builders of Anacortes, WA

Before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington, WA 98233

DYI Tips for Installing Western Red Cedar Tongue and Groove Paneling

Sep10

Western Red Cedar has been a prized building material for thousands of years due to its versatility, longevity, and natural beauty. In more recent years, it has been identified and praised for its use in “green building”. All-natural wood products, including Western Red Cedar, have been shown to have the least impact on the environment through their life cycle. Western Red Cedar building materials require less energy to produce than man-made alternatives, biodegradable, and completely renewable and sustainable.

For interior, as well as exterior use, Western Red Cedar tongue and groove (T&G) paneling can be installed vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. It is commonly used as an exterior siding and cladding, in soffits and for ceilings, and either interior or exterior accent walls or paneling.

In clear grades, Western Red Cedar T&G is commonly supplied in thicknesses of 7/16” or 1” in either 4 or 6” widths, while knotty T&G is commonly supplied in 1” thickness in either 4, 6, or 8” widths. Either are available in a variety of profiles.

The various grades and thicknesses of T&G are designed for specific appearances and uses. Our sales team is happy to discuss these with you to ensure you receive the correct product for your intended use. Upon receipt of your Cedar T&G, it should be inspected to ensure it is the correct product that you and your salesperson discussed and that it is not damaged or visually unacceptable in any way before beginning installation. Please note, however, since Western Red Cedar is a natural material, color variations, as well as some defects, are allowable within each chosen grade.

Be sure to choose a fastener with a high level of corrosion resistance recommended for use with Western Red Cedar. Should your Cedar T&G be installed near salt water or in another area with high condensation, a severe level of corrosion-resistant fastener should be selected. We recommend using stainless steel ring shank nails in the appropriate grade for where the product is to be installed. The nails used need to penetrate at least 1 ¼” solid wood. Plywood, sheetrock and/or particleboard, or similar sheeting is NOT considered solid wood.

HORIZONTAL or DIAGONAL INSTALLATION: Start at the bottom and work up with the groove edges facing downwards and the tongues up. Cedar T&G up to 6” wide can be “blind nailed” through the tongue at an approximate 45-degree angle with one nail into each framing member. Should the framing be covered by sheetrock, plywood, or house wrap, before beginning installation, snap a chalklike or mark a line over the covering to ensure you nail at least 1-1/4” into the framing each and every time during installation. T&G wider than 6” and those starter pieces and ending pieces will need to be nailed to the framing through the face. As you move up the wall, be sure to tap each piece into place with a rubber mallet and check to be sure you are staying level.

Clear, Mixed Grain Western Red Cedar Tongue and Groove Paneling Exterior Accent Wall

We supplied the Clear, Mixed Grain Western Red Cedar Tongue and Groove Paneling for this stunning accent wall of the newly constructed Craft Stove in Mount Vernon, WA.

VERTICAL INSTALLATION: Since framing generally runs up and down, you will need to provide “nailers”, horizontal blocking lines, or furring strips for the T&G to be installed properly. Each piece of Cedar T&G will need to be secured to solid wood with at least a 1-1/4” penetration approximately every 12”. Once the nailers are in place, use a level or plumb line to ensure the first board is installed plumb. As with horizontal installation, pieces up to 6 inches in width can be blind nailed. Wider pieces, as well as those in the beginning and the end, will need to be nailed directly through the face of the T&G into the solid wood behind. Lightly tap each piece into to place and be sure to you are staying plumb throughout your installation.

Knotty Western Red Cedar Tongue and Groove Siding Cladding installed vertically

We supplied the knotty Western Red Cedar T&G that was installed vertically on this cute little cabin on Guemes Island, WA.

Should you have more questions or concerns about how to install your Western Red Cedar Tongue and Groove paneling, please do not hesitate to discuss this with your salesperson before installation of your product to ensure your Cedar T&G will perform at its best for you.

Before your next project, be sure to visit us!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington WA

18″ R&R Value Priced Western Red Cedar Sidewall Shingles

Jun18

We are pleased to be stocking 18″ Western Red Cedar Value Priced Rebutted and Rejointed, Kiln Dried Sidewall Shingles produced by the only shake & shingle producer that owns its own timber supply, Teal Cedar of British Columbia, Canada.

Get More for Your Money With

Sourced from the most sustainably managed forests in the world, we are pleased to provide homeowners and contractors nationwide with Teal Cedar‘s Western Red Cedar Sidewall Shingles and Shakes. New to our product line up are two grades of 18″ rebutted and rejoined*, kiln-dried, sidewall shingles with sanded faces. Inspected by a third party for quality control, our A Extra’s and B Clear’s are every bit as beautiful as you would expect and provide the durability and longevity that only coastal grown Canadian Western Red Cedar can provide. All this at a GREAT price!

Manufactured with 100% heartwood, A Extra’s are clear up to a minimum of 8″ from the butt of each shingle with no decay, holes, or knots. Grade A Western Red Cedar sidewall shingles are 18″ long and can be installed with a maximum exposure of 7″. Each carton of A Extras will cover 25 square feet, when installed at a 5″ exposure. Available now in their natural state and pre-stained with a Western Red Cedar tone penetrating oil, called “Teal Tone”. Other colors and primed A Extras are available by special order.

While some knots and holes may be present, Grade B Western Red Cedar shingles are clear and are 100% heartwood up 6″ from the butt. Eighteen inches in length, Grade B Clear sidewall shingles can be installed with a maximum exposure of 5.5″. Each carton will cover 25 square feet when installed at a 5″ exposure. Currently offering natural shingles in stock, but primed and stained B Clears are available by special order.

A Extra and B Clear Western Red Cedar Sidewall Shingles should be installed sanded face out, at no more than the maximum exposure rated for each grade. Space shingles slightly apart 1/4″ to allow for expansion and to prevent buckling. Because of Western Red Cedar’s natural properties, fasteners that are corrosion resistant (such as Stainless Steel) are recommended and should be applied approximately 1″ above the butt line of the succeeding course. As with all sidewall shingles, the first course on the wall should be doubled. Outside corners should either be laced, butted against corner boards, or mitered. Inside corners should be butted against a wood strip.

Please call for pricing and availability!

And before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington, WA 98233

*Rebutted and rejointed (R&R) shingles have parallel edges at right angles to the butt and are of uniform thickness. The butts and one face shall be reasonably smooth. Mills producing these products shall use an independent inspection or certification agency to oversee quality control of products labeled as such.

Why Your Custom Home Deserves High Quality Western Red Cedar

Apr24

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.

Before your next project, be sure to visit us!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington WA

Applying Opaque Finishes to Western Red Cedar

Oct26

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 custom 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

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!

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington, WA 98233

Cedar Country Lumber

Your Premium Forest Products Provider Specializing in Western Red Cedar and Alaskan Yellow Cedar Building Materials

Category Archives: Exterior Siding

Trending Now – Natural Exterior Wood Cladding

Ribbon Coursing of Cedar Sidewall Shingles

CCA Pressure Treated Cedar Shingles and Shakes

While naturally resistant to rot and decay, Western Red Cedar shingles and shakes that have been treated with Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) will add years to the life of your roof or siding.

Cedar and other Wood Specialty Patterns

Historical Wood Patterns

New Wood Patterns

Matching and Creating Historical Wood Siding Patterns

Clear, Vertical Grain Western Red Cedar Engineered T&G

DYI Tips for Installing Western Red Cedar Tongue and Groove Paneling

18″ R&R Value Priced Western Red Cedar Sidewall Shingles

We are pleased to be stocking 18″ Western Red Cedar Value Priced Rebutted and Rejointed, Kiln Dried Sidewall Shingles produced by the only shake & shingle producer that owns its own timber supply, Teal Cedar of British Columbia, Canada.

Get More for Your Money With

Why Your Custom Home Deserves High Quality Western Red Cedar

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.

Applying Opaque Finishes to Western Red Cedar