Cedar is also softwood but it's tougher and more resistant than pine, able to resist the outdoor elements with no further treatment. This is why it's a great choice for outdoor tables and yard furniture. Cedar can also be used indoors for chests, wardrobes, and musical instruments.
Durability and Strength
As long as it's well maintained, pine can last for up to 15 years. Pine wood panels often have a warranty of 10 years to reflect this durability. Cedar lasts longer, with proper maintenance allowing you to get up to 25 years of use out of the wood.
Pine and cedar are both softwoods, but cedar is a tougher variety. While both can be used for furniture and interior decorating, cedar's durability, as well as its rot- and pest-resistance, gives it a leg up when it comes to outdoor/patio furniture.
Hardness. Aromatic red cedar has a Janka rating (used to test the relative hardness of wood) of 900, while southern yellow pine is behind by a bit with a Janka rating of 690. So cedar is a little harder.
Properties. Western Red Cedar is one of the world's most durable woods, as it has a natural resistance to moisture, decay and insect damage. It has twice the stability of most commonly available softwoods due to its low density and shrinkage factors.
You can easily find pine, and it's readily available from many suppliers. Cedar, on the other hand, is a rare type of wood. Because of this supply issue, pine is usually more affordable than cedar, which is why many homeowners prefer to use it for their fences.
Cedar is also softwood but it's tougher and more resistant than pine, able to resist the outdoor elements with no further treatment. This is why it's a great choice for outdoor tables and yard furniture. Cedar can also be used indoors for chests, wardrobes, and musical instruments.
Characteristics of Redwood and Cedar
When you're looking for the best wood for outdoor use, both of these types of wood are naturally resistant to rot and decay, along with being termite and insect-resistant. Redwood and cedar are also known to: Resist warping and twisting.
Cedar wood may last over 20 years when used in outdoor structures, such as decks, pergolas, gazebos, or furniture. It can last between 15 and 20 years when used for constructing a fence or support posts.
Poplar is easy to work but harder than soft pine, making it a better choice for weight-bearing structures.
What are the benefit of cedar lumber? Cedar is durable and strong– Western Red Cedar is lightweight but stable and is less likely to crack and warp than even treated lumber. Western Red Cedar contains oils that act as preservatives to deter insect attack and decay. This same oil gives cedar its distinctive smell.
Cedar is a type of wood that is known for its durability and resistance to rot, making it a popular choice for outdoor structures such as fences and decking. However, cedar is not immune to rot, and eventually, even cedar posts will deteriorate over time.
Cedar is generally more expensive than pressure-treated pine. The reasons behind this are that cedar is rarer, more resistant, and generally considered more attractive. For a pine fence, expect to pay around $10 to $20 per linear foot, which includes both the material and labor costs.
Cedar does not warp or shrink and is a naturally stable material perfect for picket and privacy fences. Cedar wood fences stand the test of time, and look great decades after installation.
Cedar naturally contains oils that help to repel moisture and insects, which makes it a great choice for siding. However, over time these oils can break down, leaving the wood vulnerable to damage. Sealing your cedar siding helps to protect it from moisture, UV rays, and pests, which can help extend its lifespan.
Which Wood Lasts the Longest? Teak wood easily lasts the longest when used for outdoor furniture or decking. When properly maintained, it can last for the entirety of your life and years after.
Naturally resistant woods that are commercially available include black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), teak (Tectona grandis), ipe (Tabebuia spp.), California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). These have the highest resistance to rot over time.
On the pro side, pine has a lower price tag, it's easy to stain or paint, and it is strong enough to make furniture that's durable and functional. On the con side, it can get marked and dinged, it has a knotty look, and stain or paint color needs to be chosen with pine wood traits in mind for the best presentation.
You Have a Cedar Fence
The downside to cedar wood is that as it ages it naturally turns grey. If the entirety of your fence is grey, it's likely an aged cedar fence.
Cedar has natural weather- and insect-resistant qualities. Pine costs less than cedar but requires more maintenance. Cedar is expensive but lasts longer.
Cedar trees, particularly eastern redcedar trees, have been found to attract ticks due to the unique habitat they provide. The microclimate within cedar tree canopies, influenced by temperature and humidity, offers favorable conditions for ticks to thrive and expand their populations.
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that cedar trees attract rats. However, some people believe that the scent of cedar oil may be attractive to rats, which could lead them to the area where the tree is located. Cedar is a simple and natural way to deter rodents away from your home.
It's generally considered to be more valuable than vinyl siding, though the differences in their appearance have become largely negligible. Cedar siding is more expensive than vinyl siding and can improve a home's value more, but it's also more difficult to maintain.