Information & Benefits of Northern White Cedar

Northern White Cedar has many benefits and is very popular for log furniture because of its many aesthetic and molecular advantages. The USDA Forestry Division ranks it as one of the best woods to use in exterior building. Northern White Cedar has the lowest shrinkage factor, lowest moisture content, and requires very little maintenance. Northern White Cedar is one of the most versatile woods available. In fact, Northern White Cedar is one of only three woods allowed by National BOCA Code to be used to build a deck or porch without pressure treating for rot, decay, fungi, and wood infesting insects.

Northern White Cedar is one of only a few woods that can be used for outdoor log furniture instead of pressure treated lumber because of its long life, durability, stability, and resistance to rot, insects, and fungi.

Northern White Cedar is produced in the greatest quantities in Canada, Maine, and the Great Lake States. Although it is a difficult tree to harvest, its many aesthetic and structural advantages make up for this.

Northern White Cedar grows in damp swampland and can be harvested only when the winter's chill freezes the ground sufficiently to support the weight of the loggers and their heavy equipment. Even with the most determined effort and the longest winter, loggers manage to fell barely half the Northern White Cedar trees that are ready to harvest each year.

Northern White Cedar is an extremely slow growing tree with very tight growth rings. The trees that are mostly harvested are from 25 - 75 years old. The cedar wood is one of the most versatile. It is nearly impervious to insects, rot, and fungi. It requires little maintenance, it is easy to handle, dimensionally stable, and as durable as it is beautiful. The heartwood is light brown, and the sapwood is thin and white.

Northern White Cedar is a superior choice for log furniture because of its beauty, practicality, and durability. The Northern White Cedar used in log furniture is a creamy white color that gracefully weathers to a silver-gray color when left out in the sun. Cedar is naturally resistant to decay and insect damage. Because of this, cedar log furniture can be used indoors or out, and may be left completely unfinished, treated with protectants, even stained or painted. Whether finished or not, each piece of log furniture will be a durable, beautiful addition to any home, cabin, outdoor setting or garden.

The information above was provided by our knowledge as well as our friends at Timber Ridge Furniture

Cedar vs Pine, Which is Better?

For indoor rustic furniture cedar and pine are both a fine choice.  In fact we mix pine and cedar in many of our rustic dressers, chests, nightstands, desks, bookcases, etc. Pine will be used for the framing while Cedar is used as trim and handles. The cedar (Northern White Cedar) and pine (White Pine) that we use are extremely similar in color allowing this mixing of wood types. The main difference between the two is Cedar will tend to have more knots and streaks of color in the grain.

All of the log beds from JHE's Log Furniture Place whether they are made of White Cedar, Red Cedar, Pine, Aspen, Hickory, or Barn Wood all are extremely strong. So pick out the bed whose style you like the most and rest assured that any log or rustic bed you purchase from JHE's will last a lifetime.

For outdoor log furniture, unfinished Cedar will last longer than unfinished Pine. Cedar is known for being naturally resistant to decay and most insects and thus is one of the best woods to use outdoors. When left unfinished Cedar will weather to a silvery gray color.  Pine, when regularly treated with an outdoor protective sealant, will also last for quite a few years outdoors. So again, choose the style that you like with the upkeep of the furniture in mind.   One of the reasons we carry so many different styles of rustic furniture is so that you will find the style that fits your tastes.