Timberline Lumber Company supplies Western Red Cedar siding, shakes, and exterior trim from Black Mountain, NC. Naturally durable and dimensionally stable for Western North Carolina humidity and freeze-thaw, with flatbed delivery across the Carolinas and East Tennessee at mill-direct pricing.
Western Red Cedar (WRC) is the definitive siding and shake species of North America. Harvested from the old-growth and managed forests of the Pacific Northwest, WRC combines natural beauty, exceptional dimensional stability, and inherent weather resistance into a species that has defined the American exterior for generations.
Color & Appearance
WRC heartwood ranges from pinkish-red to warm chocolate-brown, with lighter sapwood providing contrast. The grain is straight and even, with a fine texture that machines to a smooth, satiny finish. Cedar's natural color variation creates a beautiful multi-tonal appearance on exterior walls, especially in bevel siding applications where the shadow lines accentuate the color range. Left unfinished, WRC weathers to the classic silver-gray that defines coastal and mountain architecture.
Natural Durability
Western Red Cedar contains high concentrations of natural thujaplicins — extractives that give the wood its characteristic cedar aroma and, more importantly, its resistance to decay, fungal growth, and insect attack. WRC is rated Class 2 for natural durability and has been used for centuries by Pacific Northwest indigenous peoples for longhouses, canoes, and totem poles specifically because of its resistance to the wet coastal climate.
Dimensional Stability
WRC has one of the lowest shrinkage rates of any commercial softwood. This means installed cedar siding stays flat, doesn't cup or twist, and maintains tight joints through seasonal humidity cycles. For siding applications where boards are constantly exposed to moisture changes, this stability is critical — it's the reason cedar siding outlasts pine siding by decades.
Performance Specifications
- Janka Hardness: 350 lbf
- Density: ~23 lbs/cu. ft. (one of the lightest commercial species)
- Durability: Class 2 — naturally decay- and insect-resistant
- Stability: Exceptionally low shrinkage coefficient
- Insulation Value: Highest of any commercial softwood — 1.35 R-value per inch
Western Red Cedar FAQ
Is Western Red Cedar good for siding in Western North Carolina?
Yes. Cedar’s natural decay resistance and low shrinkage handle WNC humidity and mountain freeze-thaw better than pine on open-weather walls. We stock bevel, trim, and shake packages from Black Mountain.
Do you deliver Western Red Cedar to Boone and Cashiers?
Yes. High Country and plateau builds are core cedar markets for us. We deliver siding and trim packages to Boone, Cashiers, and gated mountain sites on flatbeds sized for steep drives.
Cedar or pine for exterior siding?
Cedar usually wins for unfinished or stained weather-exposed walls. Pine works for paint-grade and protected applications. See our Cedar vs. Pine Siding guide for the full climate and cost comparison.
Does cedar need finish outdoors?
Cedar can weather to silver-gray unfinished, or take stain/oil to hold color. Either way it outlasts untreated pine outdoors because of natural extractives and better dimensional stability.
