Why You Should Use Cedar for Your Deck
Depending on the maintenance and environment, a deck made with Western Red Cedar can last upwards of 20 years – much longer than the average 11 years that a person stays in one home. Other decking materials change over time; companies find flaws with formulas, features of the boards go in and out of style, color trends change, etc. Building a cedar deck with Western Red Cedar means your outdoor space will never go out of style. In fact, many may argue it just gets better with time!
Cedar is timeless, eco-friendly, easy to work with, versatile AND naturally resistant to rot, insects and decay. It can be a top choice for homes in any climate due to its natural preservatives that help it stand up to the elements and avoid warping, cupping and twisting.
Read below to learn more about why you should choose Western Red Cedar for your next deck project, including how to properly maintain your deck so you can enjoy it year after year.
To learn more about using Western Red Cedar, click here to visit the Real Cedar website.
Tight-Knot Cedar or Clear Cedar Boards?
Cedar comes in a variety of grades and profiles suited for whatever project you’re working on. When choosing your deck boards, your main focus will be on which grade you desire – Tight-Knot (TK) or Clear. At Sound Cedar, we guarantee every board you purchase will be top quality and, in many scenarios, invite you to choose the boards you like for your project.
Tight-Knot cedar is what people often think of when imagining a more “rustic” look. These boards come with firmly embedded knots in the wood, which vary in size and appearance. Contrary to common misconceptions, these knots will remain tight throughout the life of the deck. Homeowners and builders often choose tight-knot cedar over clear due to its lower price point and availability. These factors make a difference when you’re completing a larger deck project or finishing the siding on your home.
Clear cedar is virtually free of almost all knots and has a fine, straight grain. You’ll often find clear cedar used in scenarios that are focused more on the appearance of a modern, contemporary design.
Pricing and availability for clear cedar is different compared to that of TK cedar. Sourcing clear cedar is quite a bit harder, which makes it less available and more expensive. If you’re planning to use clear cedar, we recommend pricing it out first to ensure you have the necessary budget. We will also need time to reach out to our suppliers and order the product for you, so planning ahead is recommended.
Get Unlimited Versatility When You Use Cedar Decking
Western Red Cedar is ideal to use in numerous applications and building your new deck is no exception. WRC is easy to work with due to the fact that it lies flat and straight and is relatively light. It is easy to cut into any angle necessary for your deck shape, including creating different designs and inlays.
Stains & Finishes
Western Red Cedar is naturally pitch and resin free, which allows it to accept all sorts of stains, paints, oils, waxes and other commercial finishing products. While just about any option will do for cedar siding or indoors, you’ll want to make sure to choose a finish that will help protect your deck from exposure to the elements. This still leaves many choices such as transparent stains and water-repellent preservatives, semi-transparent stains and paints.
Many exterior grade finishes come in colors that are not natural to cedar. Use these finishes to give your cedar deck the appearance of other materials such as oak, walnut or mahogany. For a complete contrast, some homeowners may choose to finish their deck boards in more modern tones such as whitewashing, gray or black stains.
Homeowners often choose cedar because of its natural color. In instances like these, you will want to look for a finish with UV protection which will help prevent the boards from fading to their aged, silver hue.
Sound Cedar carries multiple products for finishing and maintaining your deck. Learn more about the products here
Maintaining Your Cedar Deck
Cedar decking is both high and low maintenance depending on the look you want to preserve, the climate the boards are exposed to, and how long you want your deck to ultimately last. At a minimum, it is good to clean your deck once a year, preferably in the springtime. Use warm soapy water to remove your basic dirt and debris, and if you’re battling mildew, you can use a diluted household (oxygen based) bleach. If you’re battling more stubborn discoloration such, many companies manufacture deck cleaning products labeled as cleaners, brighteners or restorers. These can help clean your boards without stripping the finish off your cedar boards.
As it is exposed to sun, Western Red Cedar will eventually turn to a silver/gray color. Many homeowners enjoy the natural look, so their maintenance is just a quick scrub down each year. If, however, you would like to preserve the color of the cedar, or even maintain a color not natural to cedar, staining will be required as suggested by the stain manufacturer, or as you see fit. This is typically every 2 years or so. Cedar takes to many different types of stains and paints very easily, so the options are endless!
Ready to purchase your cedar decking materials, or have a question on what kind of materials you will need to begin with? Click the link below to send us a message: