Cedar Narrow Slat

Our Western Red Cedar comes from Canada and is graded No. 2 Clear, allowing 15-20% of No. 4. This grading ensures that our cedar is of the highest quality, providing you with the best material for your projects.

I’ve seen these cheaper somewhere else. While you might find cheaper options, it’s essential to consider a few key factors:

1. Origin of Cedar: Some suppliers offer British Cedar, which, although good, does not match the quality of Canadian Cedar. We source our cedar from Canada because it provides superior quality and durability.
2. Size of Slats: Our most popular slats are 44mm wide. Other suppliers might offer slats that are, for instance, 38mm wide. This 6mm difference may seem minor, but over a typical 1800mm high panel with a standard 12mm gap, you could end up needing four more slats. That’s 20 extra slats for five sections, significantly increasing your costs.
3. Customer Service: We pride ourselves on exceptional customer service. Our feedback reflects our commitment to customer satisfaction. While we strive for perfection, we acknowledge that issues may arise and are dedicated to resolving them promptly and effectively.

When comparing prices, ensure you’re comparing like for like. If another supplier offers the same quality, size, and excellent customer service at a lower price and has the product in stock, then it might be worth considering them.

Contact Us: For any inquiries or personalised advice, don’t hesitate to contact our expert team at 0161 764 5362 or 07884 184 842. We’re here to help you make the best choice for your project.

Important Information About Cedar Lengths

Are the lengths all slightly different? Yes, this is quite common when buying cedar. Our cedar is sold in lengths of 6ft to 9ft, not in metric sizes like 1.8m, 2.1m, 2.4m, etc. Since Canada uses the imperial measuring system, your cedar will arrive in approximate lengths of 6ft, 7ft, etc.

Why the Difference?

• Imperial Measurements: Canada uses the imperial system, so lengths are in feet rather than meters.
• Trim for Precision: While lengths may vary slightly and sometimes be longer than specified, this allows you to trim them for a precise, clean, and square cut.

What to Do: Don’t panic if your cedar arrives slightly longer than expected. This variance is normal and can be easily managed. Just plan for some trimming when you use the material to ensure a perfect fit for your project.

Best Practices for Fixing Cedar Slats

Choosing the Right Fasteners:

• Stainless Steel Only: Whether you’re using nails or screws, it’s crucial to use stainless steel fasteners. Galvanised fixings can react with the natural oils in cedar, leading to unsightly black marks around the fixings.

Installation Tips:

• Inform Your Installer: If your installer is unfamiliar with working with cedar, inform them about the need for stainless steel fasteners. This ensures that they use the appropriate materials and techniques to prevent staining and maintain the integrity of your cedar slats.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure a professional and long-lasting installation that showcases the natural beauty of your cedar slats without any undesirable marks or damage.

Sustainability of Our Cedar

Committed to Sustainability:

• PEFC Certification: Yes, our cedar is sustainable. We source our cedar from a PEFC-certified importer, ensuring that our stock comes from a sustainable source.
• Environmental Responsibility: By choosing cedar from a certified importer, you can be confident that the wood is harvested responsibly, contributing to the preservation of forests for future generations.

Our Commitment to the Environment:

• Environmental Awareness: We are dedicated to environmental stewardship and believe in conducting our business in a way that minimizes our impact on the planet.
• Supporting Sustainable Practices: By choosing our cedar, you’re supporting sustainable forestry practices and helping to protect the world’s valuable natural resources.

Rest assured that when you choose our cedar, you’re making a sustainable and environmentally responsible choice.

Canadian Western Red Cedar is renowned for its beautiful and unique mix of warm amber tones. These tones range from reddish browns and dark chocolatey browns to lighter beige. This natural variation in colour gives cedar its distinctive and attractive appearance, making it a popular choice for various projects.

Embrace the natural beauty of Canadian Western Red Cedar and add a touch of elegance and warmth to your designs.

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Setting Post Spacing for Cedar Slats

Choosing the Right Distance:

• Flexible Spacing: The distance between posts is entirely up to you and depends on your specific project requirements. You can opt for 6ft, 7ft, or wider spacing, with additional support as needed.
• Consider Metric Sizes: While imperial measurements like 6ft are common, we advise rounding down to the nearest metric size for consistency. For example, if using 6ft slats, setting the posts at 1.8m centres ensures easier measurement and clean, square cuts for your slats.

Tips for Even Gaps:

• Add Vertical Slats: Incorporating a couple of slats vertically between posts can help maintain even and consistent gaps. This additional support ensures a neat and visually appealing finish.

Following these suggestions, you can effectively plan and space your posts for a professional and aesthetically pleasing installation of your cedar slats.

Proper Storage Tips for Cedar

Storing Your Cedar:

• Unwrap and Store Flat: To prevent the slats from bowing, always unwrap your cedar and store it flat.
• Avoid Porous Surfaces: Cedar contains natural oils that can stain light-coloured, porous surfaces such as rendered walls or tile paving. Be mindful of where you store your cedar to avoid unwanted staining.

By following these tips, you can ensure your cedar remains in excellent condition until you’re ready to use it.

Maintaining the Beauty of Your Cedar:

We recommend applying UV oil to preserve the stunning colours and extend the lifespan of your cedar. This oil helps protect the wood from the harmful effects of UV rays, keeping your cedar’s warm amber tones and natural beauty intact for longer.

Application Tips:

• Clean the Surface: Ensure the cedar is clean and dry before application.
• Apply Evenly: Use a brush or cloth to apply the oil evenly across the surface.
• Follow Instructions: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the best results and reapply as recommended to maintain protection.

Treating your cedar with Armourflex UV Oil lets you enjoy its gorgeous appearance and durability for many years.

When installing your cedar slats horizontally, we recommend spacing your vertical battens every 500 – 600mm for optimal support and stability.

1. Natural Properties: Cedar is known for its natural resistance to rot, decay, and insect damage, thanks to its high content of natural oils and tannins. This makes it an excellent choice for outdoor applications where durability is essential.
2. Aromatic Qualities: Cedar has a distinct, pleasant aroma that many people find appealing. This aroma adds to the overall experience of working with cedar and acts as a natural insect repellent.
3. Weathering: Cedar will naturally weather to a silver-grey patina when exposed to the elements over time. This weathered look adds character and charm to outdoor structures and is often preferred for its rustic appeal.
4. Versatility: Cedar is a versatile wood that can be used for various applications, including fencing, decking, siding, furniture, and outdoor structures like pergolas and arbours. Its natural beauty and durability make it a popular choice for both residential and commercial projects.
5. Maintenance: While cedar is naturally durable, proper maintenance can help prolong its lifespan and keep it looking its best. This may include regular cleaning, periodic sealing or staining, and replacing any damaged or deteriorated pieces as needed.
6. Environmental Benefits: Cedar is a renewable resource that grows relatively quickly compared to other timbers. When harvested responsibly from sustainably managed forests, cedar can be an environmentally friendly choice for building materials.
7. Working with Cedar: Cedar is relatively lightweight and easy to work with, making it suitable for both DIY enthusiasts and professional builders. It can be cut, shaped, and fastened using standard woodworking tools and techniques.

Understanding these aspects of cedar can help you make informed decisions when using it for your projects and ensure that you get the most out of this versatile and durable wood.

It is an ideal choice for exterior use.

While our timber is of the highest quality, it’s important to note that it’s a natural product.

Knots, small chips, markings, or scuffing may be present. Fortunately, these imperfections are easily rectified with a bit of light sanding. Additionally, knots or small chips can often be resolved by turning the slat to reveal its best face side.

These natural variations add character to the wood and contribute to its unique charm.

But to avoid delays in finishing your project, we suggest adding extra slats to your order. If you order the exact amount and find you have a couple that has a knot, you do not like, or one that has worked loose, or something similar, then this will only slow your project down and potentially cost more money in extra delivery costs and replacement products.

Remember, nature grew the tree and didnt check it with a spirit level while it was growing; allow for the odd quirk, bow or knot; order some additional, just in case. We cannot guarantee that every slat will be perfect, and therefore, we cannot replace a slat because of something that is a natural occurrence.

As much as our timber is high quality, we highly recommend clients add 5  10 % additional materials to their order, as we cannot supply every length defect-free.
Timber is a natural product and sometimes has an odd defect, or knot, as such we cannot replace pieces due to natural defects.

Most can be rectified by sanding or trimming, but please allow a little extra material just in case.

Timber cracking or checking is a common occurrence with any wood.

Wood is a natural product; despite our best efforts to process it, it retains its natural characteristics. Like a sponge, wood absorbs, retains, and releases moisture, reacting to environmental changes such as sun, rain, heat, and cold. This process, known as weathering, causes the wood to adapt to its surroundings, sometimes resulting in cracking or checking as it seeks to reach a natural equilibrium.

The timber starts drying from the outer/surface layers inward to reach a balance with its environment; as the outer layers dry and shrink, the moist, hard centre (or heartwood) doesn’t give them room to shrink or compress, and the cracks/checks are the woods way of relieving this pressure.