WESTERN RED CEDAR / Shorea & Poly Furniture

Naturally Western Red Cedar in its natural unfinished state has a richly textured tactile grain combined with a glowing palette of warm, mellow tones ranging from light amber to deep honey brown. No man-made material can duplicate the depth of cedar's natural luster. WRC remains subtly aromatic, and the characteristic fragrance of Red Cedar just adds another dimension to its universal appeal. 

FINISHING OPTIONS AND TREATMENTS (for more see below product images)

• Naturally Naturally 
• Wood Sealer 
• Treatment Applying a Stain 
• Using Wood Oil 
• Painting Cedar 
• Underground Contact 

WESTERN RED CEDAR

NATURAL WEATHERING

Because of the inherent nature of Western Red Cedar to withstand insect attack and the outdoor elements Cedar does not require a finish to keep its structure over the years. Many folks prefer to allow their cedar furniture to "naturally age" outdoors without a stain or finish. Over time the colorful tones of the wood slowly weather to a handsome silver-grey and the grain of the wood will become slightly raised. Left completely natural this silver-gray color will eventually be highlighted by darker streaks formed from the reaction between the Cedar Resin and the zinc hardware. If the dark streaks are not for you we suggest using a simple wood sealer as described below.

WOOD OIL

We do not recommend using oil finishes on your cedar outdoor furniture.

WOOD SEALER

A good wood sealer such as Thompsons Wood Sealer is useful by blocking the pores of the wood. This inhibits the grain from becoming raised yet allows the natural fading of the wood to a gentle silvery-gray color.

STAINING

If you would like to preserve the colorful tones of the freshly sanded cedar any number of finishes can be used on cedar furniture. The types we have tried and recommend are good quality penetrating sealers and transparent or solid exterior stains. There is a wide variety of colors to choose from which makes it easy to match your existing decor. We recommend a single coat of a semi transparent stain with a UV inhibitor such as Sikkens Cetol 1 (natural), or Thompsons Stain to preserve the handsome look of your furntiture. Every 3rd year you might re-apply a coat of stain to freshen the finish. Little or no sanding, preparation or primer is needed when you use a stain.

PAINT

Paint will work fine but as on any exterior surface, over time will begin to flake and will eventually need scraping and refinishing. Stain, however, is "breathable" and will not trap moisture, therefore - no blistering, no peeling. Stain really is the best choice here, there are many colors to choose from in semi-transparent and solid finish.

GROUND APPLICATION

Western Red Cedar should be preservative treated if intended for use in applications where it is dug into the ground. i.e. Fence Posts, Landscape Ties or Garden Arbor Posts.

______________________________________________________

Maintaining Your Shorea Wood

The wear of your furniture will depend on the location it is placed. If placed under a covered patio, it will require minor or no attention. When placed in a location that is completely exposed to the elements, the outward appearance of the wood will be affected. When left untreated, Shorea wood weathers naturally to a silver gray. Some surface roughness may also develop, especially at the end grain, but over a period of about one year, the natural weathering process will stabilize. Moderate checking in the grain is normal with exposure to the elements. Some small cracks may appear but these are only on the surface and in no way effect the structural integrity of the furniture. If the original warm brown color is preferred, we suggest a periodic (as needed) application of Cabot’s Australian Timber Oil (Mahogany Flame). Painting or Polyurethane is not recommended due to the natural oil content of Shorea wood. If you wish to restore weathered Shorea wood furniture to its original condition, we recommend using Cabot’s Problem-Solver Wood Cleaner. This cleaner is specially formulated to remove mildew, mold, algae, and dirt. It will also remove most of the gray weathered color. Then refinish with one or two coats of Australian Timber Oil.

Maintenance of CSW Poly Furniture

Countryside Woodcrafts manufactures casual outdoor furniture from recycled plastic lumber (RPL), because it’s a durable environmentally friendly alternative to traditional lumber. The material we use is made from an extremely high performance polymer that does not require sealing, painting or staining. It will not rot or splinter, and contains UV inhibitors that resist fading. It does not contain any filler, such as wood fiber, that would cause moisture absorption and promote bacterial growth. The recycled material utilized in our plastic lumber is a combination of consumer waste and industrial by-products which would normally be disposed of in our landfills.

To care for Countryside Woodcrafts casual furniture you must simply clean it regularly with soap and water (avoid pressure washing). The stainless steel fasteners used to assemble your furniture are practically maintenance free under normal conditions. (We use only the highest quality stainless fasteners; however, in coastal areas, the high salinity environment may cause corrosion and eventually fasteners will rust if not washed and rinsed with fresh water on a regular basis). Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean your furniture.