If you’re choosing cedar for siding or a porch ceiling, start with how much knot character you want to see. Clear and knotty cedar create different looks, but the grade names need a little explanation, especially when you’re comparing quotes from different suppliers.
You don’t need to know every grading term before you get in touch. A photo of the look you want, along with where the cedar will be used, gives us a useful starting point.
Published November 14, 2026 by Timberline Lumber Company.
Clear and knotty cedar
Clear cedar has fewer visible knots, so you see more of the grain running along each board. Knotty cedar makes the knots part of the finished surface. Across a whole ceiling, their size and spacing become much more noticeable than they are on a small sample.
For a porch where you want visible knots and plenty of variation, a suitable knotty grade may give you exactly the appearance you’re after. If you prefer long stretches of wood with very little interruption, a clear grade is worth considering. The important part is seeing enough boards to judge the overall look.
These are appearance choices. A load-bearing cedar beam also needs the appropriate structural grade and design specification.6
Understanding cedar grade names
A grade sets limits on the characteristics allowed in the lumber. The names below come up in cedar specifications, but the exact rules depend on the product being ordered.
Clear
“Clear” covers more than one grade. Under NLGA rules for cedar finish, paneling, and ceiling boards, Clear Heart permits minor characteristics, while A permits small, sound, tight knots.1 Some A Clear specifications also include a stated proportion of B Clear.2
That matters if you want a ceiling with no visible knots. We need to know that preference when discussing the material, because the word “clear” by itself doesn’t promise every board will be knot-free.
Select Knotty and STK
Select Knotty is a named grade with sound, tight knots. Some specifications allow a proportion of Quality Knotty; some suppliers also secure knots with adhesive on the back.2
You may also see STK on a cedar quote. NLGA defines that abbreviation as “sound and tight-knotted.” It isn’t a complete grade specification on its own.1 When comparing offers, check the full grade description so you know whether both suppliers are quoting comparable material.
Standard & Better
Standard & Better, often shortened to Std & Btr, is another designation you’ll see among our Western Red Cedar options. The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association describes this category for exterior construction and notes that occasional pieces may need trimming. It has a different specification from Select Knotty.2
If your project needs long, exposed boards with little opportunity to cut out knots or other unwanted features, include that in the request. Short trim pieces and an uninterrupted ceiling run place different demands on the material.
What does CVG cedar mean?
CVG means clear vertical grain. The two parts describe different things: “clear” refers to appearance, and “vertical grain” describes the orientation of the growth rings in the board. Clear cedar can also be mixed grain, so a clear grade alone doesn’t establish vertical grain.1
There are product-specific names to watch for, too. The association’s formal Clear V.G. Heart designation applies to bevel siding; a tongue-and-groove ceiling needs its own appropriate specification.2
If you’re matching a photo or an architect’s specification, include it with the request. Let us know whether vertical grain is required or whether you’d like to compare it with a mixed-grain option.
Choosing cedar for siding or a porch ceiling
Look at several representative boards together before settling on an appearance. For a ceiling, step back far enough to get a sense of what you’ll see overhead. For siding, consider a larger area than the single board you’re holding. A useful sample includes the variation you can expect across the order.
The face you install outward matters as well. Under NLGA’s knotty cedar paneling and siding rules, the appearance grade normally applies to one face; the reverse can look different.1 Smooth and textured faces also give different results. Our tongue-and-groove guide explains the joint and profile choices.3
Try your intended finish on the sample. A semi-transparent stain leaves grain visible, while an opaque coating hides more of it; texture also affects how the finish behaves.4 Viewing a finished sample in similar light to the project is more useful than choosing from an unfinished offcut.
Moisture condition needs a separate check. Your installer should know how the boards are supplied and plan storage and conditioning for the setting. The grade name alone won’t tell you when the cedar is ready to install.5
Getting a cedar quote from Timberline
Send what you know about the project:
- Where the cedar will go: siding, a covered porch ceiling, interior paneling, or trim.
- The appearance you want, with a photo or specified grade if you have one.
- The board size, profile, exposed face, and finish you’re considering.
- The quantity and any required lengths. Measured wall or ceiling area is fine to start; mention whether you’ve included waste.
Once the profile is chosen, its installed coverage determines the linear footage needed. Our cedar quote comparison example walks through that calculation.
We’ll confirm the offered grade, available lengths, price, and timing with your quote. Pickup is at our Black Mountain yard near Asheville. For delivery, include the project ZIP and any access or unloading details.
Request a cedar quote or call (828) 654-9224. If you’re still deciding on the grade, tell us what you’re trying to achieve.
Sources
- NLGA Standard Grading Rules, 2025, paragraphs 200 and 204, and abbreviations.
- Western Red Cedar Lumber Association: Siding Grades.
- WRCLA: Tongue and Groove Siding.
- WRCLA: Choosing a Finish.
- WRCLA: Prebuilding Recommendations and Indoor Preparation.
- WRCLA: Timber Grades and Specifications.