Why choose Western Red Cedar

Oceania only uses Western Red Cedar in our garden Sun Lounges, with no other substitutes.

Western Red Cedar grows along the Pacific coast from northern California, through the states of Washington and Oregon, into British Columbia Canada and up to southeastern Alaska. The average size of a typical western red cedar tree is between 45 to 60 meters tall and to diameters of 2.4 meters.

Beauty

Cedar timber is renowned for its natural and outstanding physical properties. With a uniform of fine-grained texture combined with a palette of warm, mellow tones ranging from light amber to deep honey brown. Its rich colour is beautifully complemented by a natural satin luster and a unique fragrance of a subtle aroma.

Natural Durability

Western Red Cedar produces natural oils that act as preservatives to protect the wood from insect attacks and decay. Its ability to produce such preservatives increase with age - allowing the wood to withstand years of usage. In addition, it is a very stable wood that lies flat and stays straight. Compared to other woods, it boasts a very low shrinkage, which makes it ideal for use in outdoor high-moisture areas.

Energy Saving

Beauty aside, the Western Red Cedar's practicality and cellular structure creates interior air spaces that give it an insulation value higher than most woods. Buildings which feature cedar paneling and siding tend to stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Sustainability

All of Woodpeckers Western Red Cedar is imported from the coastal regions of British Columbia, Canada. Western Red cedar is sustainably felled in British Columbia, where around 1% of BC’S cedar growing stock is fell each year. To further improve the sustainability of Western Red Cedar, a method of felling called ‘variable retention’ has been introduced. Instead of conventional clear-cutting of forest areas, the variable retention system works by leaving enough trees, snags and other woodland material to rest. As a result, this maintains the forest structure and environment to better support the cedar tree re-growth. The BC Ministry of Forests also uses short term and long-term computer simulation to optimize sustainability.

Oceania Sun Lounges and Woodpecker Joinery are committed to the eradication of illegal timber in European markets. By implementing the Responsible Purchasing Policy outlined by the Timber Trade Federation and improving our supply chain, we are putting that commitment into action.”