What You Need to Know About Cedar Siding

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For over 50 years, our lumber traders have leveraged relationships with mills and suppliers to deliver the best products at the best prices. In today’s blog, we discuss everything you need to know about cedar siding.

What is Cedar Siding?

Cedar siding is a natural wood siding used as an outer covering for a house. It comes in a variety of styles including, shingles, shakes, trim boards, and clapboard.

Cedar Siding Benefits

When it comes to cedar siding, there are plenty of reasons homeowners and homebuilders might choose to work with this material.

Durable & Long-Lasting

One of the biggest perks of cedar siding is its durability. Cedar wood is naturally moisture-resistant and decay-resistant, so you don’t have to worry as much as about weather damage. It even has natural insect repellant properties. Because of its weather-resistance, you don’t have to worry about cedar wood swelling, bending, splitting, or decaying. making it a great, long-lasting option for homebuilders and homeowners alike. In fact, cedar siding can last up to 60 or 70 years with proper maintenance!

Naturally Insulating

For people looking to save money on energy costs, cedar siding can be a great option because it’s an excellent insulator. Not only does it keep warm air in during the winter, but it helps keep cool air in during the summer. Plus, its weather-resistant properties reduce the chance of costly internal structure damage.

Sustainable & Good for the Environment

If sustainability is one of your concerns, cedar siding might be a great option for your project. Like all natural woods, cedar is biodegradable, and because it requires minimal processing and treatment, it has a smaller carbon footprint than other types of wood siding. Plus, its durability means you won’t have to replace it as often as other types of siding.

Aesthetically Pleasing

Many people choose cedar siding because of its aesthetic beauty. The natural grains of cedar wood are unique and visually pleasing, and since cedar can be painted or stained, it offers a lot of flexibility for potential buyers. Plus, cedar siding comes in many styles, including lap siding, bevel, shakes, and shingles, so you can customize how you want your siding to look.

Maintenance of Cedar Siding

The natural oils in cedar help preserve its beauty by repelling rot, mildew, pests, and insects, but if cedar siding isn’t properly maintained, it can lose these oils and their properties. Not only should cedar siding be stained or painted before application, but it should also be repainted or re-stained every couple of years. You should also clean it annually to remove any dust or dirt accumulation.

Cedar Siding Pricing

While cedar siding tends to be more expensive than other wood and vinyl sidings, it is also more durable and longer lasting, which means it may be a smarter long-term financial decision.

Cedar Siding at AIFP

Looking to buy cedar siding for your next big construction project? AIFP can help! We trade Alaskan yellow, incense, and Western red cedar siding for residential and commercial projects. Contact us today to learn more about how AIFP can help you meet your diverse construction, manufacturing, and industrial needs. In the meantime, check out our lumber blog, where we cover other building materials we trade, including spruce-pine-fir, southern yellow pine, and plywood.

(Image Credit: Real Cedar)

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