|
 |
The Advantages of Cedar for Outdoor
Furniture
While we do offer other wood species, cedar is our wood of choice.
5/4 cedar is the minimum thickness material we use for any of our cedar
furniture. 5/4 cedar is a full 1 inch thick when finish sanded.
This is considerably heavier (33%) than most of the furniture you will
find on the market. Cedar affords the best value to our customers by providing lower cost,
lighter weight and excellent weather and rot resistance:
-
Cedar is a lightweight and dimensionally stable wood that lies flat
and stays straight. Which means it resists the natural tendency to crack
and check, as you might find in many other wood species.
-
Western Red Cedar has an incredible thermal co-efficient, meaning
even on hot days, it is extremely cool to sit in.
-
Western Red Cedar fibers contain oils that act as natural
preservatives to help the wood resist rot and decay, making it excellent
furniture material for moist or humid climates. These properties also
make Cedar a very popular material for hot tub and sauna areas.
-
Among other things, these naturally
occurring oils give off that distinct cedar aroma that makes the wood highly
unattractive to insects, moths and other pests.
-
Its bacterial and fungal resistance coupled with the fact that Cedar
is 80% the strength of Oak, makes it the most desirable wood to use for
building Outdoor furniture.
-
We buy high-quality
lumber, which we finish with a fine sanding. The edges of all pieces are
also rounded over and sanded. Cedar weathers to a silver-gray, a
no-maintenance look preferred by many.
Finishing Cedar
Should you desire a different look,
cedar readily accepts most stains, outdoor paints and wood preservatives.
-
While you can
varnish outdoor furniture made of oak, maple, or pine, we do not
recommend using varnish on cedar: A marine grade spar varnish
will work well, but will flake if the furniture gets dented, leaving an
unsightly appearance.
-
Clear oil finishes, such as linseed oil, or
teak oil work
very well, as does a deck sealer such as Thompson's.
-
A deck sealer
will protect the wood from the elements, but unless you use a sealer with UV
blockers, will not prevent the wood from turning grey from exposure to the
sun. Be sure to read the can carefully to make sure you will get the look
you want. If you desire an "old" look for your furniture, but still want to
ensure a good long life, a deck sealer without UV protection is a very good
choice.
-
Cedar will also
readily accept most outdoor wood stains and exterior paints. Keep in mind
that painted wood furniture, much like a wood fence or wood house siding,
will need to be repainted from time to time. The lowest maintenance finish
is a clear oil.
|
Adirondack Chair
Garden Table
Garden Chair
Adirondack End Table
Kids' Garden Bench |
