Western Yellow Cedar
Yellow cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) is one of the world’s most durable woods, with a fine texture and a straight grain. It has a distinctive and uniform yellow colour, with the narrow band of sapwood very similar in colour to the heartwood. Yellow cedar’s natural extractives make it decay resistant, and aromatic when cut.
Yellow cedar is well suited for flooring and bridge decking because of its strength, hardness, and wearing properties. It is resistant to corrosion from the elements, making it an excellent choice for industrial uses like flumes, chemical containers, horse stables, flooring, or outdoor seating in sports facilities. It is used extensively in boat building, sauna manufacturing, fine cabinetry, and both interior and exterior millwork.
The wood is incredibly easy to work and is prized for applications in joinery, carpentry, decorative panelling, furniture, mouldings and cabinet work. Yellow cedar wood’s fine, even texture makes it a top choice for carvings and turnings. It is sometimes used in speciality construction projects such as temples and shrines.
Structural grades are commonly used for exterior applications like bridges, decking, stairs, and in landscaping. In North America, structural grades are in accordance with the National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) rules for dimension lumber.
