DIY

Why You Should Use Cedar to Build a Wooden Shed

There are a lot of different types of material you can use if you are considering building a garden shed for your back yard. Some popular choices include plastic (or vinyl), metal (usually aluminum), and wood. You could consider using pine and T1-11 siding for your shed. But perhaps the best wood for the job is cedar. Here are a few reasons why:

Strength

Cedar is a hard wood that has fibers that are very straight. Therefore, this wood is very durable and holds up well in extreme weather. Its lightweight and lasts for years. It also is a favorite choice for outdoor furniture makers. Cedar is also a popular choice for decks, siding and shingles. In fact, you could build your entire shed out of cedar (with the exception of the hardware and nails, of course).

Insect and Decay Resistance

A natural oil in the wood acts as a repellant to insects. This is one of the reasons clothes chests have been made from cedar for hundreds of years. These same oils resist the growth of fungus that decays other woods. Cedar is commonly used in saunas for this very same reason.

Aroma

There’s no mistaking cedar when it comes to its distinct smell. This aroma actually has therapeutic properties.

Beauty

Cedar has coloring that goes anywhere from light amber to rich reds and deep browns. Left unprotected, cedar will darken but it accepts a wide variety of stains and coatings that help to enhance its natural beauty.

These are just a few of the benefits of using cedar over other types of building materials for your backyard shed project. If you research online, you can find a lot of building plans that have photos of the finished shed. This is a good way to determine what your material choices will ultimately look like. Perhaps you like the look of cedar shingles but would prefer painted T1-11 siding. Or you love cedar siding but you have a preference for asphalt shingles. Either way, you can’t go wrong with using cedar for your backyard shed.

About the Author

Don Rapier has been constructing and consulting on backyard wooden sheds for over 10 years. If you are considering building a wooden shed visit http://bestwoodensheds.com

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