Why I Love Cedar for Outdoor Projects
Cedar brings natural durability, warmth, unmistakable aroma, and one-of-a-kind character to outdoor projects built to last for decades.
By Yori, Fresno Forest Creations
I’m a little biased because I work with wood every day, but there’s a reason cedar has been one of the most popular outdoor woods for hundreds of years. It’s beautiful, it’s durable, it smells amazing, and if you take care of it, it’ll last for decades.
At Fresno Forest Creations, we use cedar all the time. It’s one of our most requested species for tongue-and-groove paneling, outdoor ceilings, patio covers, accent walls, fencing, and custom woodworking projects. There’s just something timeless about cedar that homeowners immediately fall in love with.
Mother Nature already did most of the work
One of my favorite things about cedar is that Mother Nature already did most of the work for us. Cedar naturally resists rot, decay, and insects. It has natural oils in the wood that help protect it from moisture and termites without needing a bunch of chemicals pumped into it. That’s why cedar has been used for generations in outdoor applications throughout the world.
Cedar brings warmth to outdoor living spaces
We especially love using cedar for our 3/4-inch tongue-and-groove paneling. Whether it’s a beautiful covered patio, a vaulted ceiling, or an outdoor living space, cedar creates warmth and character that simply can’t be duplicated with drywall, metal, or synthetic materials.
The grain patterns are gorgeous, the aroma is unmistakable, and every board tells its own story.
Every board has its own character
No two pieces of cedar are exactly alike. Every board has its own unique color variation and character. That’s one of the things I love most about working with real wood. You’re not buying something stamped out by a machine. You’re buying something that nature spent decades creating.
Natural comfort in every season
Another thing that doesn’t get talked about enough is comfort. Cedar doesn’t get nearly as hot as metal in the summer or as cold during the winter. It naturally creates a warm and inviting environment that’s perfect for entertaining family and friends.
Would you rather buy something once or three times?
Sometimes people get sticker shock when comparing cedar to cheaper materials, but I always ask them the same question: would you rather buy something once or three times?
I’ve seen homeowners replace inexpensive outdoor products every few years because they simply weren’t built to last. Meanwhile, I’ve seen cedar projects that are decades old and still absolutely beautiful. When you spread that investment over twenty or thirty years, cedar becomes one of the most affordable premium materials you can buy.
Craftsmanship that lasts
At Fresno Forest Creations, we’re passionate about craftsmanship. We don’t believe in disposable products or cutting corners. We believe in building things that will still be beautiful ten, twenty, or even thirty years from now.
There’s just something special about walking onto a patio finished with cedar tongue-and-groove paneling. You can see it. You can smell it. And more importantly, you can feel the difference that real craftsmanship makes.
Naturally timeless
Cedar isn’t popular because it’s trendy. It’s popular because it works. It’s naturally beautiful, naturally durable, and naturally timeless.
If you’re going to build something for the outdoors, build something that’s worthy of being passed down someday. Cedar is one of the very best places to start, and it’s one of the reasons we’ll continue recommending it to our customers for years to come.