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From Northern British Columbia, Canada, to California, USA, a rugged spine of mountains stretches for almost 1,500 miles parallel to the Pacific coast of North America. Along the slopes and in the valleys of these mountains, the humus-rich soil nourishes mixed softwood forests in vast abundance.
The majority of Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) grows in coastal forests. Western Red Cedars also grow in the drier interior forests of British Columbia, Washington, Idaho and Montana where they are smaller in stature with a tightly knotted growth characteristic. Aromatic Red Cedar is a member of the juniper family. Cedars rarely grow in pure stands but are generally found in association with other species. Western Red Cedar forests are predominantly managed forests, in which controlled harvests, natural regeneration and reforestation programs ensure a perpetual harvest.
A red cedar log is composed of white and red sections of wood. The white section nearest the bark is referred to as “sap wood” and the red, inner section is called “heart wood”.
Cedar is a lightweight and dimensionally stable wood that lies flat and stays straight, which means it resists the natural tendency to crack and check, as you might find in many other wood species. Western Red Cedar has a fine, straight grain and uniform texture and is one of the most dimensionally stable softwoods. Its distinct cell structure discourages moisture rot by allowing it to dry out faster than most other woods. Western Red Cedar shrinks and swells about half the amount of Douglas fir and most pines and has twice the stability of most commonly available conifers. The stability is a result of its low density and shrinkage factors. This superior resistance to warping, cupping and twisting makes Cedar the best choice for the use of saunas. Cedar is 80% the strength of Oak, making it a very desirable wood to use for building saunas. Canadian Western Red Cedar will not bow or sag over time. Cedar saunas will hold their handsome shape and appearance year after year with very little maintenance. Cedar is a soft wood that resists cracking and splitting caused by repeated heating up and cooling down. No sauna wood has a history of standing up better to the constantly changing environments, than Cedar. Cedar’s dimensional stability makes it perfectly suited to a variety of uses in high moisture areas such as bathrooms and saunas.
Western Red Cedar (Thuja Plicata) is renowned for its natural beauty and outstanding physical properties that make it one of the world’s most unique softwood species. This exceptionally beautiful wood has natural coloring in mellow ambers, reddish cinnamons and rich sienna browns. Its warm coloring is complimented by a uniform, fine-grained texture with a satin luster. Slow growing, and naturally durable, Western Red Cedar has one of the longest life spans 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 adverse environments is important.
Western Red Cedar is incredibly thermal coefficient, meaning it will retain heat. Western Red Cedar has inherent advantages as a thermal insulator. Its thermal conductivity factor K is 0.74 BTU in / ft2 h F and its R-value is 1.35 per inch of thickness. This is why Western Red Cedar is such a good wood for saunas — it doesn’t burn your “derriere” because it has one of the lowest thermal diffusivity values of any wood species. The main reasons for Western Red Cedar having this property is its low specific gravity, and its high extractives content. The wood’s cellular structure creates interior air spaces that give it an insulation value higher than most woods and much higher than brick or concrete. Walls made of cedar paneling tend to insulate and stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Double wall sauna construction, which provides additional air spacing between the interior and exterior walls, offers excellent insulation.
The excellent natural durability of Western Red Cedar heartwood is recognized throughout the world as being one of the most durable species in the marketplace. Western Red Cedar “heart wood” contains natural oils that act as preservatives to help the wood resist insect attack and decay. Cedar is naturally bacterial, fungal and mold resistant. Western Red Cedar fibers contain extractive oils that act as natural preservatives to help the wood resist rot and decay, making it excellent material for moist or humid environments. The two principal extractives that are responsible for decay resistance are thujaplicans and water-soluble phenolics. This is especially important in sauna construction, where moisture and heat combine to create an ideal environment for decay, bacteria and mold. These properties make Cedar the most popular material for saunas.
Naturally occurring organic compounds called (thujaplicins), give off that distinct cedar aroma that is pleasant to humans but a deterrent to insects, moths and other wood pests. This makes Aromatic Red Cedar the natural choice material for saunas. Cedar oil is widely used in the cosmetic and perfume industry, in particular for men’s toiletries. The Cedar used in sauna construction is therapeutically aromatic, is generally satisfying to the senses and provides a true relaxing experience.
Cedar assists in breaking down mucus, especially in cases of bronchitis. Cedar also helps disperse excess fluids through the body.
The presence and prestige of cedar enhances the aesthetic structure of any type or design of product. Cedar is as elegant, as it is aromatic. Cedar is one of the most beautiful woods available, ranging in color from a very light honey to a deep walnut shade. Western Red Cedar ages gracefully and endures for many years.
Cedar is free of pitch and resin and it finishes to a richly glowing surface. Western Red Cedar contains water-soluble extractives that contribute to its color, durability and aroma. The presence of moisture on exterior surfaces can bring these extractives to the surface and leave a reddish brown stain after the water has evaporated. The stains can be removed with detergent and water when they are first on the surface, however they can be more difficult to remove if exposed to the sun. Controlling the extractive bleeding process is a matter of moisture control. Removal of mature extractive bleeding stains is accomplished with an oxalic acid solution. Oxalic acid is available at most paint and hardware stores. Resurfacing or sanding the cedar can remove more permanent stains. This process will return the natural beauty and unique aromatic properties of the cedar.
Cedar also has excellent sound suppression and absorption qualities. The open cell structure of Western Red Cedar has demonstrated an ability to absorb and dissipate sound energy. The cell structure converts the sound energy into heat by friction and viscoelastic resistance. The use of cedar for sauna walls and ceilings provides a high level of sound insulation.
A small percentage of the population cannot tolerate cedar. They generally have a condition known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity ( MCS ). While this is not a universally recognized disorder in the medical field, these people have an adverse physical reaction to low levels of many common products and cannot tolerate any aromatic oils, perfumes, shampoo or herbs. However, for the majority of the population, cedar is the wood of choice.
Some sauna manufacturers make far infrared saunas with Bass wood which is also similar to our Hemlock wood infrared saunas. Both these woods are recomended for people with MCS which is described above. There are some problems with Bass wood and Hemlock and that is the fact that they warp and shrink over time and do not neutralize sweat which is absorbed into the wood during each treatment. This leads to the wood turning yellow from sweat and leads to odours in the infrared sauna over time.
Lenson International Corp. and its affiliates do not provide medical advice, education or treatment. The information contained in this site is for general information purposes only and does not address individual circumstances or medical conditions. It may not be right for you and should not be relied upon in making decisions about your health. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.