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Cedar Decking How long will a Cedar deck last? Where does Western Red Cedar grow? Is it necessary to treat Cedar with chemicals for preservation? Will the appearance of Cedar change over time? What should I do to keep my Cedar deck looking new and fresh? Can I paint Cedar? Is Cedar decking going to warp and twist as I have seen some decking do? What type of nails or screws do I need for my Cedar project? How heavy is the Cedar? Is Cedar strong enough for a deck? What about the posts, joists, and railing system? Can I use Western Red Cedar for these parts as well? How much wastage should I allow for when building the deck? Since I have to order in lift lots only, what can I do with any extra wood? What are my delivery options for cedar decking General Questions Where can I get further information on deck building? Does BuildDirect have deck plans? Cedar Decking Q. How long will a Cedar deck last? A. Western Red Cedar is classified as a durable species. You can expect it to last a long time, typically from 15 to 25 years depending on use. Return to Top Q. Where does Western Red Cedar grow? A. Western Red Cedar grows mainly in the wet belt areas of the North American west coast, from northern Oregon, through Washington, British Columbia into the Alaskan panhandle. There is also a wet belt area in the western side of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia and Washington. Return to Top Q. Is it necessary to treat Cedar with chemicals for preservation? A. No. You do not need to treat Cedar with a chemical preservative. There are natural oils in the wood that aid in giving Cedar a longer life. Return to Top Q. Will the appearance of Cedar change over time? A. Cedar will turn a natural gray color as time goes on. This happens as the outside cells are exposed to the weather. This layer will then act as a barrier to further weathering. Many people prefer this weathered look. Return to Top Q. What should I do to keep my Cedar deck looking new and fresh? A. If you wish to keep that new look, you can give the deck a water repellent treatment containing UV protection. A semi-transparent or solid stain can also be used. There are many brands on the market. Regular treating will help to preserve the Cedar’s original appearance. Return to Top Q. Can I paint Cedar? A. Yes. However, once Cedar is painted, you cannot undo this; and it does hide the natural color and grain of the wood. Return to Top Q. Is Cedar decking going to warp and twist as I have seen some decking do? A. Another great feature of the Western Red Cedar is the fact the fibers are long grained and very stable compared to other species of softwood. There is very little twisting or warping. Also, there are fewer splinters than some of the pressure treated lumber. Return to Top Q. What type of nails or screws do I need for my Cedar project? A. Cedar will stain with the use of common nails or coming into contact with iron. It is suggested you use aluminum, stainless steel, or the galvanized nails or screws in order to avoid this. Screws have a stronger holding power. Return to Top Q. How heavy is the Cedar? A. Cedar is a relatively light wood and is rated at a kiln dried weight of about 22 lbs. per cubic foot. The weight of Cedar lumber will vary depending on the relative moisture content. As the lumber dries, the weight naturally becomes less. As a rule, building materials in these quantities are heavy. Please make note of all information in regard to how much your particular shipment weighs to make sure that you have the right equipment and personnel to receive it. Return to Top Q. Is Cedar strong enough for a deck? A. Cedar’s strength makes it an excellent decking material. However, if you have any questions regarding span and weight loads for your deck, you should consult with local engineering authorities regarding the joists, spacing, and the amount of load you will put on the deck. Return to Top Q. What about the posts, joists, and railing system? Can I use Western Red Cedar for these parts as well? A. Yes. Cedar can be used for these part too. However, you might prefer to use economically priced pressure treated lumber for the joists and posts that are hidden from view. Return to Top Q. How much wastage should I allow for when building the deck? A. If the deck plan is simple, you can avoid a lot of cutting and your wastage will be minimal, maybe as low as 5%. As the deck plan gets more complicated, the result is more cutting and more “ends” left, hence more wastage. By planning your cutting accordingly, you can reduce the amount of waste. Return to Top Q. Since I have to order in lift lots only, what can I do with any extra wood? A. Once the deck is built, there are several things for which you may wish to use any remaining wood. You might consider a skirt around the deck, benches, railings, or perhaps a simple arbor to complete your deck. Return to Top Q. What are my delivery options for cedar decking A. We can do the following: Residential delivery - This is delivery to the curbside/driveway of your residence. As indicated, the buyer is required to unload, and this normally requires a couple of persons. For one lift of decking, it is not a long job. Due to the dimensions of decking, lift gates are not possible. Commercial delivery - For this type of delivery, a warehouse location with access to a loading/unloading ramp and a forklift are necessary to ensure quick unloading of the product. Terminal pick up - You have the option of pickup at the nearest terminal to you, with the help of our trucking partner. Select this option in the “Select delivery type” pulldown menu at the checkout, and enter your zip code . You will need a good flat bed trailer/truck for forklift loading. In all the options above, please make note of the weights and dimensions of the product you are considering for your own reference. General Questions Q. Where can I get further information on deck building? A. There are many “how-to” books and websites that can aid in the designing and building of a strong deck. You should also consult your local building code authorities to obtain the relevant building regulations for your area. Q. Does BuildDirect have deck plans? A. We do not carry deck plans; however, by searching with the terms deck plans or building plans on the Internet, you will be able to find websites that do have plans for various deck designs. Return to Top
Cedar Decking
How long will a Cedar deck last? Where does Western Red Cedar grow? Is it necessary to treat Cedar with chemicals for preservation? Will the appearance of Cedar change over time? What should I do to keep my Cedar deck looking new and fresh? Can I paint Cedar? Is Cedar decking going to warp and twist as I have seen some decking do? What type of nails or screws do I need for my Cedar project? How heavy is the Cedar? Is Cedar strong enough for a deck? What about the posts, joists, and railing system? Can I use Western Red Cedar for these parts as well? How much wastage should I allow for when building the deck? Since I have to order in lift lots only, what can I do with any extra wood? What are my delivery options for cedar decking
General Questions
Where can I get further information on deck building? Does BuildDirect have deck plans?
Q. How long will a Cedar deck last?
A. Western Red Cedar is classified as a durable species. You can expect it to last a long time, typically from 15 to 25 years depending on use.
Return to Top
Q. Where does Western Red Cedar grow?
A. Western Red Cedar grows mainly in the wet belt areas of the North American west coast, from northern Oregon, through Washington, British Columbia into the Alaskan panhandle. There is also a wet belt area in the western side of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia and Washington.
Q. Is it necessary to treat Cedar with chemicals for preservation?
A. No. You do not need to treat Cedar with a chemical preservative. There are natural oils in the wood that aid in giving Cedar a longer life.
Q. Will the appearance of Cedar change over time?
A. Cedar will turn a natural gray color as time goes on. This happens as the outside cells are exposed to the weather. This layer will then act as a barrier to further weathering. Many people prefer this weathered look.
Q. What should I do to keep my Cedar deck looking new and fresh?
A. If you wish to keep that new look, you can give the deck a water repellent treatment containing UV protection. A semi-transparent or solid stain can also be used. There are many brands on the market. Regular treating will help to preserve the Cedar’s original appearance.
Q. Can I paint Cedar?
A. Yes. However, once Cedar is painted, you cannot undo this; and it does hide the natural color and grain of the wood.
Q. Is Cedar decking going to warp and twist as I have seen some decking do?
A. Another great feature of the Western Red Cedar is the fact the fibers are long grained and very stable compared to other species of softwood. There is very little twisting or warping. Also, there are fewer splinters than some of the pressure treated lumber.
Q. What type of nails or screws do I need for my Cedar project?
A. Cedar will stain with the use of common nails or coming into contact with iron. It is suggested you use aluminum, stainless steel, or the galvanized nails or screws in order to avoid this. Screws have a stronger holding power.
Q. How heavy is the Cedar?
A. Cedar is a relatively light wood and is rated at a kiln dried weight of about 22 lbs. per cubic foot. The weight of Cedar lumber will vary depending on the relative moisture content. As the lumber dries, the weight naturally becomes less. As a rule, building materials in these quantities are heavy. Please make note of all information in regard to how much your particular shipment weighs to make sure that you have the right equipment and personnel to receive it.
Q. Is Cedar strong enough for a deck?
A. Cedar’s strength makes it an excellent decking material. However, if you have any questions regarding span and weight loads for your deck, you should consult with local engineering authorities regarding the joists, spacing, and the amount of load you will put on the deck.
Q. What about the posts, joists, and railing system? Can I use Western Red Cedar for these parts as well?
A. Yes. Cedar can be used for these part too. However, you might prefer to use economically priced pressure treated lumber for the joists and posts that are hidden from view.
Q. How much wastage should I allow for when building the deck?
A. If the deck plan is simple, you can avoid a lot of cutting and your wastage will be minimal, maybe as low as 5%. As the deck plan gets more complicated, the result is more cutting and more “ends” left, hence more wastage. By planning your cutting accordingly, you can reduce the amount of waste.
Q. Since I have to order in lift lots only, what can I do with any extra wood?
A. Once the deck is built, there are several things for which you may wish to use any remaining wood. You might consider a skirt around the deck, benches, railings, or perhaps a simple arbor to complete your deck.
Q. What are my delivery options for cedar decking
A. We can do the following:
In all the options above, please make note of the weights and dimensions of the product you are considering for your own reference.
Q. Where can I get further information on deck building?
A. There are many “how-to” books and websites that can aid in the designing and building of a strong deck. You should also consult your local building code authorities to obtain the relevant building regulations for your area.
Q. Does BuildDirect have deck plans?
A. We do not carry deck plans; however, by searching with the terms deck plans or building plans on the Internet, you will be able to find websites that do have plans for various deck designs.