Heidi Norton
Incense cedar decking is a type of wood commonly used for building decks. It is native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, including western Oregon, southern California, and the northern Baja Peninsula of Mexico. Incense cedar is known for its versatility, stability, and resistance to decay and insects. It has a unique appearance, with creamy white sapwood and light brown to reddish-brown heartwood, and emits a soothing aroma. Due to its stability, incense cedar is less likely to expand or contract, making it a popular choice for various applications, including decking, siding, fencing, and construction lumber. It is also important to note that incense cedar has been traditionally used for making pencils due to its softness and ease of sharpening without splintering.
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What You'll Learn
Incense cedar decking is a premium wood product
One of the most notable characteristics of incense cedar is its dimensional stability. This means that it lays flat and stays straight, making it less likely to warp, cup, or twist. Its even grain and consistent density contribute to this stability. The wood also has an unusually straight grain and high-dimensional stability, allowing it to withstand temperature fluctuations without warping, checking, or shrinking. This makes it ideal for decking, as it can handle varying weather conditions without deforming.
Incense cedar is also naturally resistant to decay and insect infestation. Its heartwood, which ranges from light brown to light reddish-brown, has an aromatic, spicy odor and is highly resistant to rot, even in wet conditions. This resistance to decay and insects is a significant advantage, as it ensures the longevity of the decking without the need for additional preservative chemicals.
In addition to its durability, incense cedar is aesthetically pleasing. It has a rich, warm aesthetic with a range of natural hues, tight grain patterns, and soft textures. Freshly cut incense cedar decking will have a light brown hue with honey and peach shades. Over time, when exposed to the weather, the colour will gradually change to a silver-grey, providing a natural, weathered look.
Incense cedar is also a versatile wood that is easy to work with. It forms smooth surfaces when worked with hand tools or machines and glues and nails well, although blunt nails are recommended to avoid splintering. It holds paint and stain extremely well, allowing for a variety of finishing options.
Overall, incense cedar decking is a premium wood product that offers a combination of unique properties, including dimensional stability, natural decay and insect resistance, aesthetic appeal, and versatility. It is a durable and attractive choice for decking that can enhance the beauty and longevity of outdoor structures.
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It is a softwood native to the Pacific Northwest
Incense cedar is a softwood native to the Pacific Northwest, specifically the inland forests of central and northern California and southern Oregon. It also grows natively in the mountains from western Oregon to southern California and the northern Baja Peninsula of Mexico. This softwood tree can grow to impressive heights, with some reaching up to 200 feet tall.
The natural growing range of incense cedar is within the elevation range of 2,000 to 6,900 feet. It is a hearty and drought-tolerant species, able to grow in a variety of soils and flourish among other tree species like Douglas-fir, Jeffrey Pine, and ponderosa pine. Despite its versatility and usefulness, incense cedar has not become a mono-cultural plantation species like other commercial western softwoods.
The wood of the incense cedar tree is known for its versatility and unique properties. It has a warm red and white colour with a natural grain that adds to the rustic charm of log cabins. The wood is dimensionally stable, meaning it lays flat and stays straight, reducing the likelihood of warping, cupping, or twisting. This stability also makes it suitable for applications where it needs to withstand temperature and humidity changes without warping or shrinking.
Incense cedar is easy to work with and is commonly used in construction, decking, fencing, and the production of pencils due to its softness and resistance to splintering. It has a pleasant aroma and is naturally rot-resistant, making it ideal for outdoor structures without the need for added chemicals. The wood's durability and aesthetic qualities make it a popular choice for log cabins and interior finishing materials.
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It is dimensionally stable, rot-resistant, and insect-resistant
Incense cedar decking is an excellent choice for your deck due to its dimensional stability, rot resistance, and insect resistance.
Dimensional stability refers to a wood's ability to maintain its shape and size without warping, cupping, or twisting. Incense cedar exhibits high dimensional stability due to its even grain and consistent density. This stability is further enhanced by its resistance to temperature and humidity changes, making it ideal for decking that is subjected to varying weather conditions.
Incense cedar is naturally rot-resistant. The heartwood of incense cedar is highly resistant to decay, even in wet conditions. This resistance to decay is a significant advantage, especially for outdoor decking, as it ensures the longevity of the structure without the need for additional chemical treatments.
Additionally, incense cedar is also insect-resistant. This property has been a subject of research, with efforts made to understand its insect-resistant nature better. The natural resistance to insects further adds to the durability of incense cedar decking, making it a top choice for outdoor structures.
The stability and resistance properties of incense cedar decking are further complemented by its aesthetic appeal. The wood boasts a stunning warm red and white colour with a natural grain, enhancing the overall look of the decking. Its aromatic qualities also create a soothing and inviting ambiance, making it a popular choice for log cabins and outdoor spaces.
Overall, incense cedar decking is a highly stable, rot-resistant, and insect-resistant option that provides both functional and aesthetic benefits for your decking projects.
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It has a warm aesthetic and a soothing aroma
Incense cedar decking is an excellent choice for those seeking a warm and inviting aesthetic. The wood's rich, dark-coloured heartwood boasts a range of natural hues, from light brown to reddish-brown, with tight grain patterns and soft textures. Its warm red and white colour and natural grain enhance the rustic charm of log cabins. The fresh-cut cedar offers a variety of honey and peach shades of light brown, while exposure to the elements will result in a beautiful silver-grey patina over time.
The incense cedar's aroma is soothing and aromatic, creating a welcoming and relaxing ambiance. Its spicy fragrance is a unique feature that sets it apart from other decking materials. The fragrance is a natural characteristic of the wood, providing a pleasant sensory experience for those who appreciate its warm and comforting scent.
In addition to its aesthetic and aromatic appeal, incense cedar is a versatile and stable wood. It is dimensionally stable, laying flat and staying straight due to its even grain and consistent density. This stability also means it can withstand temperature fluctuations without warping, checking, or shrinking, making it an excellent choice for decking that needs to endure varying climatic conditions.
The natural durability of incense cedar is another advantage. It is highly resistant to decay, even in wet conditions, and its rot and insect resistance make it ideal for outdoor structures. This durability ensures the longevity of your decking and contributes to its overall appeal.
Incense cedar is native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, including western Oregon, southern California, and northern Mexico. It is a hearty and drought-tolerant species that grows in abundance, making it a sustainable and readily available resource for decking and other construction projects.
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It is a popular choice for log cabins and decking
Incense cedar is a popular choice for log cabins and decking due to its versatility, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, this softwood tree boasts a host of desirable attributes.
One of the key advantages of incense cedar is its stability. The wood does not expand or contract significantly, making it ideal for decking, railing, soffits, and ceilings in log cabins. It exhibits optimal physical characteristics for close-tolerance, precision machining, resulting in very smooth surfaces. Additionally, its dimensional stability ensures that it lays flat and stays straight, reducing the likelihood of warping, cupping, or twisting.
The wood is also naturally rot-resistant and insect-resistant, enhancing the longevity of structures. Its resistance to decay and insect infestation is particularly advantageous in outdoor environments, eliminating the need for preservative chemicals. The wood's inviting warmth and rich, warm aesthetic, with its range of natural hues and soft textures, make it a top choice for interior finishing as well.
Incense cedar is also known for its distinctive fragrance. The heartwood of the wood has an aromatic, spicy odour, creating a soothing aroma that contributes to a welcoming and relaxing ambiance. Furthermore, incense cedar is easy to work with due to its softness and can be easily cut and machined without splintering, making it suitable for various construction and woodworking applications.
Overall, the combination of its unique properties, sustainability, and beauty makes incense cedar a popular and versatile choice for log cabins and decking projects.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense cedar decking is a type of decking made from incense cedar wood, which is native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is commonly used in log cabin construction.
Incense cedar is dimensionally stable, meaning it lays flat and stays straight. It has an even grain and consistent density, making it less likely to warp, cup, or twist. It is also naturally resistant to rot and insect infestation, making it ideal for outdoor use. Additionally, it has a rich, warm aesthetic and its softness makes it easy to work with.
Incense cedar decking is a great alternative to redwood decking as it has more flexural toughness, is less dense, and has less natural oil, making it easier to stain. It is also typically more available and less expensive than redwood decking.
