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THE
WOOD - WESTERN RED
CEDAR
Our wood products are constructed from Western Red Cedar,
which is a superior outdoor wood. Cedar is well reputed for
its resistance to rotting and insects. We use only kiln-dried
lumber, which promotes dimensional stability. The grade of
cedar is one of the highest you can specify and is considered
a ‘clear’ grade, which means there are little
to no knots within the boards.
CARE
AND MAINTENANCE
Protecting
Protect your gate by treating the surface with a quality,
protective wood sealer suitable for cedar. Typical wood
weathering characteristics will be evident over time and
contributes to the character of the wood. Sealing the wood
surface will prevent water absorption, excessive drying,
and discoloration. If the moisture level of the wood is
allowed to significantly change, excessive dimensional changes
and/or warping can occur. Note: Some dimensional variation
is expected during weather changes.
If you are applying multiple finishes (for example a clear
coat over a stain product), be sure to check with the manufacturer
or retailer for compatibility between the two materials.
Some coastal areas are known to have high salt content in
the air which can expedite the deterioration of the finish
surface. Click
here for Suggested Finish Options.
Maintaining
Outdoor wood finishes will deteriorate over time. We recommend
reviewing surfaces for condition. One way to check the finish
is to see if water beads on the surface, rather than absorbing
into the wood. If there are areas that seem to be more exposed
than others, proactive attention to these areas will increase
longevity of the product. Areas that may need special attention
are areas that receive a lot of sun exposure, the end of
the vertical frame pieces where water can most easily absorb,
and the pockets created where the panels enter the frame.
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TYPICAL
TONAL VARIATION
Western
Red Cedar has natural variations in color and brightness
(see below). The contrasting character of the wood is
a beautiful aspect of this wood specie. These variations
include yellow, pink, red, and brown tones. The lightness
of each tone may vary as well. The tonal differences and
contrast may be accentuated when a clear finish is applied.
Finishes that are higher in pigment such as ‘semi-transparent’
finishes may reduce the tonal differences.
During the manufacturing process we carefully hand select
boards and determine the positioning of boards so that
there is an balanced look to the final product. Boards
which are significantly different in tone (brightness),
will not be placed next to each other. For example, in
the image below the boards that are defined as 'Dark'
and 'Light' would not typically be placed adjacent to
each other within the gate structure.
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WOOD GRAIN DEFINED
Depending
on which portion of the log that a board is cut from, the
grain pattern will be either 'flat grain', 'vertical grain',
or somewhere in between. We use
a mixture of flat and vertical grain boards, typically referred
to as mixed grain. Similar to the approach taken for tonal
variation, during the manufacturing process we select and
position boards within our gates to provide a balanced overall
look to the final product. |
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