Replies

1. 
   src | Jun 22, 1999 10:20am | #1

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   Steve,
   Your wood might have come from logs with tension in them. Yellow Cedar lumber is only good from logs with about an inch of twist in two,two and a half feet. If you buy any make sure that it is kiln dried.This will prevent twisting and also it "sets" the natural oils in it. MacMillian Blodel
   Delta Cedar, and Anderson Pacific are the three largest Yellow Cedar mills in B.C., with websites.
   With Western Red Cedar,I personally cut tons of it for board and batten siding on my portable mill. If you live in a dry climate, use a Sikkens Cetol or other high end coating.
   Getting back to your question, Myself, I would use Western Red for siding, and yellow for the trim.Just for the contrast.

2. 
   Guest_ | Jun 22, 1999 04:25pm | #2

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   There was an interesting "What's the Difference?" column in FHB comparing the "cedars." Confirms that age of growth stand, method of sawing and quality of log are all as influential as species on performance.

   White's age to silver or gray. Red ages to brown. Don't know about yellow.

   We've had good results with Port Orford Cedar (Chamycyperos sp.) in our deck. That's a white from the PNW. Cost here in the east was only about 10% more than PT. Used 4x4s for rail posts, 2x4s for rails, 2x2s for balustrades, 1x6 RED for deck and 1x8s for skirt boards. All over PT framing. Quality was pretty good. Some of the longer deck boards were a little wavy but we coaxed them straight and they've stayed down where screwed (2 on each joist) without splitting. In place two years now. Yard tells us, however, that there's no grading system for this species and some runs are not as good as others.

   Just now got a sample pyramid post cap made of the stuff. A week in the hot sun and the piece that's beveled to make the pyramid checked badly, I suspect because it's only 3 1/2" long along the grain.

3. 
   Klaas_Armster | Jun 23, 1999 10:31am | #3

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   we have supplied atlantic and northern white cedar to the building industry for over 25 years. It is a wonderful wood - in addition to its' decay resistance and silver gray weathered color, it is also splinter resistant. the wood is supple - it is a pleasure to work with. in addition, it is sustainably harvested. the biggest problem is that the yield of clear lumber is only about 3-15%. http://www.whitecedar.com

4. 
   Steve_Altman | Jun 25, 1999 03:58am | #4

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   We have had some bad experience recently with Alaskan Yellow Cedar used as exterior deck posts and railings. The material has checked badly and twisted. We are building a new home this summer in the Sierra Nevadas and the architect's first choice for considerable amount of exterior trim and siding is AYC. Has anyone had a similar experience with AYC ? And if so have you had a successful experience with Western Red Cedar and/or Eastern White Cedar.

5. 
   Guest_ | Jun 25, 1999 03:58am | #5

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   And the cypress you custom milled fence pickets from for me has weathered very nicely too. About three years now and can hardly tell it from the 40 year old stuff we matched.