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On Your Deck and Around Your Yard
Today's Cedar - The Natural Choice
for Your Great Outdoors
  
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From the arrival of the Northwest's earliest inhabitants,
Western Red Cedar has been a cherished, even revered,
part of our outdoor heritage. And while the Old Ones
invested this wood with supernatural attributes, the
reasons for its supremacy as an all-weather building
material are entirely natural.
Cedar is naturally resistant to decay and insect damage.
Its unique "grown-in-the-wood" preservative oil means
that no further chemical treatment is needed, unless
the lumber is in direct contact with the ground. Stability?
Nature favors Cedar. With less than half the swelling
and shrinking tendency of other domestic softwoods,
it lies flat, stays straight, retains fasteners and
provides a firm base for paints and stains. So your
Cedar projects age gracefully through decades of Western
weather.
But Cedar isn't just these sturdy virtues. It's also
downright beautiful, with a rich grain, texture and
color that complement any architectural style, from
traditional to post-modern. Build with today's Cedar
and enjoy the lasting prestige that imitators can only
hint at.
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 Planning
Your Outdoor Living Room
Whether your space is a downtown condominium, a country retreat,
or something in between, outdoor living projects built with
Western Red Cedar will add immediate enjoyment and lasting
value to your investment. With versatile Cedar, the possibilities
are endless. Many homeowners begin with the deck, then as
time and budget permit, add complementary additions - railings
and stairs, fences and gates, benches and planters. And to
complete the "yardscape", a touch of romance: arbors, trellises
and a gazebo. For idea-starters, plus planning and construction
tips, browse this site or ask your building supply dealer
for more details.
 Deck
Grade Choices Made Simple
No more puzzling over decking grades. Members of the Western
Red Cedar Lumber Association have reduced the mumbo-jumbo to
four easily understood choices - a category for every taste
and budget.
(a) WRCLA Architect Clear - The ultimate in durability
and appearance, when only the finest will suffice. Usually
manufactured to individual order.
(b) WRCLA Custom Clear - Stability, durability and
urbane good looks to please the most discriminating. For custom
residences requiring fine woodwork.
(c) WRCLA Architect Knotty - Slightly knotty - but
very nice. Charming rustic characteristics will not affect
durable performance.
(d) WRCLA Custom Knotty - Combines hole-free knotty
appearance with high manufacturing standards to provide economy
and lasting enjoyment.
The Friendliest Wood You Can Work
With
Along with all its virtues of beauty, stability and endurance,
Cedar is naturally easy-going. Its ultralight weight makes
transporting and handling a snap. Its soft texture and straight
grain mean quick, clean sawing and shaping. It takes nails
and other fasteners without cracking or splitting.
 A
Growing Choice Of Shapes And Sizes
In addition to the decking grades described earlier, Cedar
is produced in a range of patterns and sizes that can let
you personalize any project. Ask your building materials dealer
for details on the full selection of today's Cedar products.
Pre-cut items include fencing, lattice, balustrades and decorative
accessories. And for the ultimate in do-it-yourself simplicity,
check out the ready-to-assemble kits (with all pre-cut Cedar
lumber, fastenings and hardware included) for projects ranging
from trellises and arbors to gazebos and storage sheds.
Express Yourself With Cedar
Cedar is Nature's own mix-and-match material. Starting with
any of the basic project designs listed below, you can let
your imagination loose with your choice of individualized
add-ons: ornate or simple post caps, latticework, arches,
"fluted" columns...with timeless Cedar, the options are endless,
whether your tastes run to turn-of-the-century Craftsman or
strictly contemporary.
The
Finishing Touch
While Cedar can be left unfinished for a rustic weathered
look, the use of a quality finish recommended by your building
supply dealer can enhance both its good looks and its natural
durability. It responds beautifully to oil-based stains in
your choice of tinted transparent finishes for a natural effect,
or lightly pigmented semi-transparent finishes. Both are available
in a spectrum of colors. Look for a coating that offers good
mildicide and ultraviolet shielding properties as well as
additional preservatives to protect your project's youthful
complexion. Varnishes and other film-forming coatings which
can crack and peel are not recommended for use on Cedar.
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