Specifications

Specifying Western Red Cedar Decking

To simplify specification, decking is now available in four grade categories offered exclusively by members of the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association. These few easily understood categories of decking provide a choice of quality clear grades or rustic knotty grades for outdoor decks of any style and budget.

Once the decision is made to build a deck, the choice of decking material is just as important as good design and quality construction. In today’s environmentally conscious society, the natural choice is Western Red Cedar.

WRCLA Cedar Decking

All wood used in the outdoors must be protected against decay and insect attack. Not only is Western Red Cedar one of the few woods with its own preservative oils, its freedom from pitch and resin makes it an excellent base for protective coatings. And cedar has other natural qualities that make it the best choice for decking. It is the most stable of British Columbia’s softwoods, so Western Red Cedar decks stay flat and straight and resist checking.

Western Red Cedar decks are firm but resilient underfoot, not hard and unyielding. The wood is light weight, easily worked and ideal for almost all types of finishes. It has an elegance that complements any architectural style and a beauty that blends into all landscapes.

Whatever the reasons for building a deck, there is just one natural choice of decking material. Available in a wide range of grades and sizes, and price-competitive with lesser materials, Western Red Cedar decks are the beautiful, practical, long-lasting complement to any home.

The following information is required when specifying decking:

Specification Information Required	Sample Specification
Species: Western Red Cedar WRCLA	WRCLA Western Red Cedar
Size: Specify the size of decking.	5/4 x 6
Grade: The grade of decking governs its overall quality. Refer to following pages for available grades.	WRCLA Custom Clear
Moisture Content: Specify whether the product is to be seasoned on unseasoned	Unseasoned
Quantity: Express in linear feet	1000

Building & Finishing

Cedar Decking

Quotes

For optimum performance, the WRCLA recommends that Western Red Cedar is preprimed or pre-finished prior to job site delivery.
Western Red Cedar produces fewer greenhouse gases, generates less water and air pollution, requires less energy to produce than alternatives and comes from a renewable and sustainable resource.
Western Red Cedar from WRCLA members is independently certified as legal and sustainable.
Western Red Cedar requires significantly less energy to produce than fibre cement or wood composite materials.
Unlike man-made alternatives, Western Red Cedar is biodegradeable.
Western Red Cedar has the lowest environmental impact when compared with other materials such as brick and fibre cement.
The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association (WRCLA) is non profit association representing Western Red Cedar producers, distributors and retailers throughout North America.
Western Red Cedar is one of the most durable coniferous species and can be counted on to give long and trouble free service under most conditions.
Western Red Cedar is light weight, easily worked and ideal for almost all types of finishes.
Western Red Cedar has centuries of proven performance which cannot be said of new man made products.
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Western Red Cedar decking shows it has the lowest environmental impact when compared with wood composite and PVC decking.
Western Red Cedar is one of the most stable softwoods, so decks stay flat and straight and resist checking.
All outdoor materials (including composite decking) require modest but regular care and maintenance.
Unlike plastic or composite decking which come from non-renewable petroleum based materials, Western Red Cedar is renewable and biodegradable.

For exterior home siding information visit www.cedar-siding.org|For wood fence, fencing, gazebo and arbor info visit www.cedar-outdoor.org