
Difference between red and white cedar shingles. If you like this type of look and feel for your home western red cedar may be the best type of timber for your home. More expensive than white cedar hardy red often dipped in creosote to combat weather and decay was a premium building material that accentuated the prestigious character of grand new england shingle style homes. We are trying to decide between red and white cedar shingles for a house underconstruction in southeastern mass. Stained or painted white shingles will be better protected from the elements than unpainted or unstained white cedar shingles.
There is less iron in the soil where irc trees are grown. Specific gravity sg is 031 versus 047 for red. If you dont particularly like this look you can still use red cedar without flared ends. Perhaps more important is that the house sits on an exposed location lots of wind and salt air about 4 miles from the ocean.
Once b grade eastern white cedar shingles are installed it is hard to tell the difference between a and b grades. However white cedars oils are stronger. Western red cedar certigrade shingles are available in four grades. When it comes to western red cedar shingles they are classified by class 1 or class 2 class 1 western red cedar shingles have no imperfections were class 2 does have some imperfections.
Strength is 45000 psi versus 61000. Northern white cedar thuja occidentalis is an excellent wood and has been used for lumber especially in maine. The pros and cons of the two cedar shingles are given below. White cedar is one of the weakest lightest weight woods in the usa.
As a result the color of the board is blonder in nature than coastal western red cedar and it has more of a creamy caramel hue to it. White cedar shingles pros. 100 edge grain no flat grain 100 clear no knots or defects 100 heartwood no sapwood this is the highest grade possible and the product is suitable for use in all cedar roof or siding applications. Western red cedar is also known for their flared butt ends that offers a unique character to many log homes both inside and outside.
A fence is a considerable investment and it should last as long as possible. Gene wengert technical advisor. Thats a significant difference. White cedar fences typically last longer than red cedar fences do often as much as 10 years longer.
White cedar contains natural preservatives which give the shingles a high resistance to decay and insects. What the mccues decided was to go with red cedar shingles that have been treated with bleaching oil. Red shingles on the other hand appear rich and classic in their natural state. However red cedar shingles cannot be painted while white shingles can be painted any desired color as they naturally absorb paint well.
The house will have flares and woven corners.