  
WESTERN
RED CEDAR - Naturally
Western Red Cedar in its natural unfinished state has a richly
textured tactile grain combined with a glowing palette of warm,
mellow tones ranging from light amber to deep honey brown. No
man-made material can duplicate the depth of cedar's natural
luster. Western Red Cedar remains subtly aromatic, and the
characteristic fragrance of Red Cedar just adds another dimension
to its universal appeal.
NATURAL
WEATHERING
Because of the inherent nature of Western Red Cedar to withstand
the outdoor elements and insect attack cedar does not require a
finish to keep its structure over the years. Many folks prefer to
allow their cedar furniture to "naturally age" outdoors
without any finish at all. Over time the colorful tones of the
wood will weather to a handsome silver-grey highlighted by darker
streaks, and the grain of the wood will become slightly raised.
WOOD
SEALER
A good wood sealer such as Thompson's Wood Sealer is useful by
blocking the pores of the wood. This inhibits the grain from
becoming raised yet allowing the natural fading to a gentle
silvery-grey color.
STAINING
If you would like to preserve the colorful tones of the freshly
sanded cedar any number of finishes can be used on cedar
furniture. The types we recommend are good quality penetrating
sealers and transparent or solid exterior stains. There are a
wide variety of colors to choose from these days, which makes it
easy to match your existing decor. We recommend 2 coats of a semi
transparent stain with a UV inhibitor such as " Sikkens
Cetol 1 (natural) to preserve the handsome look of your
furniture. Every 2nd year you might re-apply a coat of stain to
freshen the finish. Little or no sanding, preparation or primer
is needed when you use a stain.
WOOD
OIL
We do not recommend using oil finishes on your outdoor furniture,
as dust particles in the air will stick to the finish.
PAINT
Paint will work fine but like on any exterior surface, over time
will begin to flake and will eventually need scraping and
refinishing. Stain, however, is "breathable" and will
not trap moisture, therefore - no blistering, no peeling.
GROUND
APPLICATION
Western Red Cedar should be preservative treated if intended for
use in applications where it is dug into the ground. i.e. Fence
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