Cedar is a wonderful wood for the home. Its scent is enjoyable, it is lovely to behold, and the protection it can provide for your home is a lovely bonus.
You can use cedar as tiles or in paneling strips on your floor, liners for drawers, chests and cupboards. It naturally repels fleas, moths, roaches and silverfish. Use it in your laundry room, clothes closets and pantry floors for added protection of your home.
Red cedar is used in floor coverings and tongue and groove strips. The most commonly used size for these purposes is 12β squares. You can even use cedar tiles outside on patios or on walkways instead of stones or concrete. In caring for red cedar tiles, you can use a cedar-wood oil (a special oil for cedar only, do not use any standard oil treatments) that can be bought at a local home improvement center. Ask the people there, and they will gladly be of help.
Using red cedar in drawers is an excellent way to make sure your clothes and/or linens smell good and are protected from destructive insects, such as moths. You can buy these in bundles, and bundles vary depending on the company selling them and the availability of red cedar products in the region. Bundles of lining for drawers usually come in a 12β (long) x 3-1/2β (wide) x 3/8β (depth) and can be obtained in paneling strips up to 3 feet long x 3-1/2 inches wide x 3/8β thick, so that your drawers are not overwhelmed by the inserts. That way, there will be plenty of room left in them for their normal use.
Never put any type of covering over the wood other than oils recommended in use on cedar woods, and periodically sand it lightly with 400 grit, extra fine sandpaper (this renews the cedar scent emanating from the wood), as over time the grain of the wood becomes self-sealing. The light sanding weakens the natural seal, allowing the odor of fresh cedar to be released. This is the primary repellant property of the wood.
The most common use for red cedar in home construction is closets, wall paneling and cabinets. You can do single lining pieces in a small cupboard or on cabinets of any size. However, it is recommended that you get larger pieces for bigger closets. These would probably require 4x8 sheets of cedar-faced plywood for new construction. If you simply wish you to line an existing closet or room, use the paneling strips. Itβs less time-consuming and easier to work with.
Other uses for red cedar are shingles, exterior siding, fencing and gates, outdoor furniture and decks. Cedar shingles and siding are a great way to make your home look unique in your neighborhood. It is also highly wind and hail-resistant. If properly treated, it also makes for an excellent fire-resistant material. You will also find that the red cedar is naturally resistant to decay. It will last longer and age better then many man-made materials, leaving a beautiful gray patina over time. In addition, natural cedar is safe to handle and use under normal conditions, unlike the toxic pressure-treated woods.
When installing siding and shingles, always use rust-free nails or galvanized nails of the appropriate length. It is highly recommended that you avoid using electroplated galvanized nails or standard unfinished nails, because they will rust. Try staining the exterior siding to keep from it weakening and leading to expensive repairs. When properly applied, this will leave you not only with a rich color but also with a unique and beautiful grain.
Here are a few tips for caring for your siding and roofing made of red cedar. You can find most of these items in your own home:
For mold, use a mixture of three ounces of trisodium phosphate (TSP), one ounce of liquid laundry detergent, one quart of five percent sodium hychorite (household bleach) and three quarts of warm water.
Apply the solution undiluted, and use a soft brush. On finished cedar lumber you can use a sponge, and then rinse it clean. Just use water from a garden hose. Always use proper protective gear, safety glasses, rubber gloves and mask when working with any solvents. Read all instructions on solvent products before application.
If your siding accumulates moss, use a ten percent solution of zinc sulfate. This will kill the moss, and it can be easily swept away.
The cost of buying cedar is slightly higher than that of buying other woods, but it is well worth the expense for its effectiveness as an insect repellant and the wonderful aroma it will leave in your home.
