Health Mate Infrared Saunas

Cedar Facts

Western Red Cedar ( Thuja plicata ) is one of North America's great renewable resources. Slowly growing and naturally durable, Western Red Cedar has one of the longest lifespans of any North American softwood. It produces long lengths of timber with true, straight grain. It is free from pitch and its heartwood has natural decay resistance. Its low density gives it an insulation value superior to most other species. Light weight, easy to work, easy to finish, possessing outstanding dimensional stability, Western Red Cedar is a preferred wood for nearly all purposes where attractive appearance or resistance to weather is important.

Physical Properties

1. Density:
   1. It is one of the lightest commercial softwoods
      
      
   2. Cedar's low density (21 ~ 23lb/ft³ ) enhances its insulation value and makes it an easy wood to transport and handle.
      
      
2. Dimensional Stability:
   1. Compared to other common woods, cedar has a very low shrinkage factor, which allows it to lie flat and stay straight.
      
      
   2. It is superior to all other coniferous (needle-leaved, chiefly evergreen, and cone-bearing trees such as pines) woods in its resistance to warping, twisting, and cracking.
      
      
3. Decay Resistance:
   1. Cedar is one of the most durable coniferous species and can be counted on to give long and trouble free service under most conditions.
      
      
   2. Its decay resistance comes from the presence of naturally occurring fungicidal compounds in the wood called thujaplicins . Another extractive present in the wood, thujic acid, helps make the wood resistant to insect attack.
      
      
4. Thermal Conductivity:
   1. With its low density and high proportion of air spaces, Western Red Cedar is the best thermal insulator among the commonly available softwood species and is far superior to brick, concrete, and steel. This property is particularly useful for saunas made of cedar, whose walls can contain the warm air within its interior for a longer period of time.
      
      
   2. **Woods with low density have the highest thermal insulating value because such woods contain a high proportion of cell cavities. In dry woods, these cavities are filled with air, which is one of the best-known thermal insulators.
      
      
5. Acoustical Properties:
   1. Cedar also has excellent sound suppression and absorption qualities.
      
      
6. Appearance:
   1. Cedar, in its natural, unfinished state, has a richly textured, tactile grain combined with a palette of warm, mellow tones ranging from light amber to deep honey brown.