Western Red Cedars grow in the dry interior forests of British Columbia, Washington, Idaho and Montana as well as in coastal forests. Those that grow in the dry interior forests are smaller with tightly knotted growth characteristics. Western Red Cedars are most often grown in managed forests which are protected by controlled harvests, natural regeneration and reforestation. These programs allow for a perpetual harvest. 

Western Red Cedar is an excellent wood for making Cedar Outdoor Furniture. It is especially recognized for its unique weather resistant and aesthetic properties: 

• It does not warp: Western Red Cedar is a geometrically stable wood and it is lightweight. It resists the tendency to crack and check, lays flat and stays straight. Most other types of wood do not have this characteristic.
    
• It will stay cool: Western Red Cedar has an incredible “thermal coefficient”. It stays cool even on the hottest days. Buildings featuring Cedar paneling stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
    
• It resists bacteria and fungi: This fact, as well as the fact that Western Red Cedar is 80% stronger than Oak, makes it most desirable for building outdoor furniture.
    
• It will not rot: Western Red Cedar contains oils which are natural preservatives. These oils help the wood to resist rot and decay, making Western Red Cedar an excellent material for moist or humid environments.
    
• It withstands extreme weather conditions: Western Red Cedar has an incredible ability to withstand temperature ranges and weather conditions. This makes it a great material for building outdoor furniture.
    
• It smells wonderful: People love the smell of Cedar!! Most importantly, insects, moths, and other pests find it highly unattractive. This characteristic is what makes Cedar a desirable choice for closet liners and storage chests. The Cedar aroma comes from natural occurring compounds called “thujaplicins”.
    
• It looks beautiful: Western Red Cedar, in its natural state, has a glowing palette of warm, mellow hues ranging from light amber to a deep honey brown. When left to “age naturally”, these hues gradually change to a beautiful silver-gray. The grain of the Cedar will also become slightly raised and the silver-gray hues will eventually become highlighted with darker streaks due to a reaction between the Cedar resin and the zinc hardware. If allowing the Cedar to naturally age is not preferred, there are several alternatives available to prevent this.