Western Red Cedar Channel Siding

Western Red Cedar channel siding is a popular type of lap siding that provides excellent weather protection, especially in areas where the moisture levels change with the season. The profile of each piece of channel siding overlaps the next piece partially, thus creating a deep, recessed channel effect.

Western Red Cedar Channel Siding on mobile building

Channel siding is readily available in knotty grades of Western Red Cedar with a rough sawn, textured face in the following dimensions

  • 1×6” unseasoned or kiln-dried
  • 1×8” unseasoned or kiln-dried
  • 1×10” unseasoned

*Please note-the dimension described is not the finished or “dressed” size after the channel is milled, but refers to the size of board that the piece of channel is used to create the pattern*

Western Red Cedar Channel siding profiles

This diagram provided courtesy of the WRCLA

Other dimensions of Channel Cladding, as well as clear cedar grades or other species of wood, are available by special order. In these next two photos, we worked with a specialty mill to have a true 1″ thick channel siding pattern created out of knotty Western Red Cedar for a customer in North Carolina.

Custom milled 1" Knotty Western Red Cedar Channel Siding

Custom made knotty Channel Cedar Cladding

Here is a beautiful example of custom milled, clear-grade Alaska Yellow Cedar Channel Siding we recently supplied a customer in the Seattle area.

custom milled Alaska Yellow Cedar Channel Siding

clear grade Alaska Yellow Cedar channel siding

Channel siding can be installed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Be sure to allow a 1/8” expansion gap between the pieces and do not nail through the overlaps. One nail through the face is sufficient for channel siding that is 6” or less.  For profiles over 6”, two nails should be installed through the face, keeping nails 2-1/2” to 3” apart to allow for movement without splitting.

installation guide for channel lap siding

This diagram is provided courtesy of the WRCLA.

When installing channel siding horizontally, start at the bottom and work up. For vertical or diagonal applications, the siding should be nailed to blocking or furring strips as needed to ensure that the nail penetrates solid wood.  Stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant ring shank nails are recommended to hold the siding in place.

To learn more about other popular wood siding profiles, please visit our blog on that subject by clicking HERE, and before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!

360.757.6343

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington WA

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

Custom Milled Clear, Vertical Grain Alaska Yellow Cedar

Prized for both interior and exterior use due to its pale yellow color, workability, and longevity, Alaska Yellow Cedar was the chosen wood for this unique, modern home on Fidalgo Island in Washington state.  

custom milled 1x6 Clear Vertical Grain Yellow Cedar Cladding

Designed by local architect Brooks Middleton, whom we have had the pleasure to work with on several local projects, designed this project to have it built using clear, vertical grain Yellow Cedar for accent walls inside the home and for some of the exterior cladding.  Since what he was looking for was not an “off the shelf” product, we worked with our mill to manufacture the custom spec’d 6″ clear vertical grain (also referred to as VG) Yellow Cedar for the exterior siding, as well as the 8″ clear VG Yellow Cedar for the interior of the home.

Clear, vertical grain is the highest grade of Cedar, and as you might guess, the most expensive.   The wood is sawn specifically so that all the growth rings are parallel to each other on the face of the board.  All pieces milled will have a smooth face of decay-resistant heartwood and will be free from most growth characteristics that affect appearance. Please note that even in all the clear grades, including VG, some knots may be present, as well as other less-than-perfect characteristics.  Every tree, as well as every piece of lumber, will have natural individual characteristics, including variance in color.

Clear Alaska Yellow Cedar custom milled for Interior Use

When installing any natural wood product, regardless of grade, the trick is to install the best pieces in the areas with the highest visibility and always allow for some waste, especially in lower grades of clear and knotty Cedar products.

And before your next project, be sure to visit us! We specialize in working with customers with unique needs!

We ship nationwide!

360.757.6343

www.CedarCountryLumber.com

950 B Fountain Street, Burlington WA