Sauna material: Canadian red cedar panelling

Occurrence and Properties of Canadian Red Cedar

Canadian Red Cedar, a wood species native to the western regions of North America, particularly along the Pacific Coast stretching from Alaska to California, is restricted to British Columbia in Canada.

Properties of Canadian Red Cedar Wood:

Canadian Red Cedar is a giant conifer that typically reaches a height of 50 meters, but can grow up to 75 meters, with trunk diameters exceeding 2 meters.

The trunk of Canadian Red Cedar visibly tapers or is cone-shaped, with branches only beginning to spread at about 30 meters high. The bark is smooth and thin. The sapwood and heartwood are clearly differentiated, although the color difference between them is not very significant.

The sapwood is about 5 cm thick and light in color, sometimes white. The heartwood of Canadian Red Cedar generally varies in color from light brown to reddish-brown. The wood lacks resin channels, and rays are not visible in the cross-section. The growth rings, which are markedly wavy, are clearly visible.

The grain of Red Cedar wood is straight, the material is solid, quite rough, medium in hardness, and splits well. The fiber length is approximately 3.8 mm. The wood has a cedar scent. During the dismantling of branches, a pleasant bergamot pear-like fragrance is released. Delivery is smooth and easy. Canadian Red Cedar wood shrinks insignificantly, proving to be very durable and resistant to saturation.

Usage of Canadian Red Cedar Wood:

Thanks to the durability of Canadian Red Cedar, it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. It can also be veneered. Red Cedar wood is used for bridges, ship structures, it can be made into mast wood, masts, shingles, and doors. Based on its properties, it is an excellent wood for sauna construction.

No body odors persist in the cabin due to the characteristic, long-lasting volatile substances of Canadian Red Cedar.

The aromatic and natural fillers in the cedar provide unique, natural protection to the wood against all kinds of pests and fungi, extremely long after installation. Therefore, in most cases, Canadian Red Cedar does not require special preservative treatment unlike other woods.