FEATURE Story By Simon Cameron
ENGINEERED KNOTTY western red cedar is manufactured from smaller pieces of wood into long-length material and kiln dried primarily for use as trim, fascia and siding. (Photos by WRCLA)
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Expand your market share with engineered western red cedar ngineered wood products have been on the market since the introduction of plywood in the1930s, and more recent innovations such as CLT, glulam and laminated veneer lumber that allow for longer spans and taller walls are now competing with construction materials such as steel and concrete, and are seeing an increase in usage in both low and midrise buildings. While engineered wood use is growing in structural applications, engineered western red cedar (WRC) products have been meeting a growing demand in the appearance-product market. Some products have even opened new niche markets in the U.S.
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There are three main product categories for engineered western red cedar: engineered clear solid WRC, engineered T&G WRC with a clear veneer overlay, and engineered knotty WRC. All three categories of products are becoming more readily and consistently available and are creating new opportunities for architects, builders and designers. Engineered clear solid WRC are finger-joined and edge-glued boards that are used mainly for trim, fascia and siding and are manufactured differently than solid stock. These products are ideally suited for exterior cladding. What makes it so appealing to customers is that they are readily available in
n Building Products Digest n March 2021
long lengths, typically 16’ and 20’. Engineered clear, solid western red cedar is extremely long-lasting and exceptionally stable. As they have color variations and are made up of a number of small pieces, it is usually sold preprimed and is available either re-sawn or smooth textured. Engineered clear is also an excellent use of clear fiber and maximizes fiber value utilization. For designs that require the deep, rich look of clear western red cedar, engineered western red cedar T&G products with a clear veneer overlay are now available. Perfect for exterior cladding or soffits, as well as interior wall or ceiling details, these are manufactured with thin pieces of high-quality, clear, Building-Products.com
