Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is renowned for its rich colours and distinctive smell.  Qualities such as ease of splitting for roofing, walls and fence rails; naturally occurring compounds making the wood resistant to moisture, decay-causing fungi and insects; lightweight; superior insulation and acoustical characteristics; low shrinkage and dimensional stability; free of pitch and resin; readily machinable and able to accept virtually any paint or stain.  The wood has been the species of choice for window frames, doors, saunas, patio decking, outdoor furniture, exterior cladding, feature walls, timber blinds, guitar decks and so on.  For interior or exterior applications, western red cedar is truly a remarkable wood.

Historically, western red cedar first came into popular usage by the Coastal Aboriginal peoples in the Pacific Northwest of North America where it is a native species.  Various parts of the tree including roots, bark and wood was used in rope-making, clothing, baskets, totem poles, canoes, long houses, ceremonial masks and roofing.  When the European settlers arrived they soon realized the value of this unique wood.   It is not surprising that this amazing tree species is called arbour-vitae, Latin for “tree of life”.