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Projects can be as simple as sprucing up the landscaping with a western red cedar arbor, trellises, or adding a wood fence to increase privacy. Or they can take the form of a pergola or even a gazebo or deck to expand the outdoor living space. From the smallest project to the grandest, western red cedar's versatility can add beauty to the outside of a home.

Western red cedar offers endless choices to fit the style of any house. It is free from pitch and resin, making it ideal for a wide range of stains and finishes. Stains can bring a new, enhanced hue to the wood. Clear finishes can also be applied to add an extra level of protection without altering the wood's natural beauty. Or, the wood can be left alone with its natural resistance to decay, allowing the wood to develop an elegant weathered appearance.

for a long time. Either way, retail sales success hinges on providing highest quality, versatile and environmentally friendly materials, such as western red cedar.

0utdoor Improvements

Homeowners seeking to improve their living spaces are not making the traditionally popular-yet costlyupgrades to kitchens and baths. Instead, they are adding to the curb appeal with outdoor structures, or landscaping, if they are planning to sell. Or, if they are planning to stay, they are investing in do-it-yourself type projects and projects to enhance and expand living spaces. Projects can vary depending on a homeowner's level of commitment.

Ouality materials

High-quality and long-lasting materials are important to people making home improvements. Curb appeal improvements-such as landscaping, new paint, or outdoor structures like trellises and pergolas-grab the prospective customer's attention. However, homeowners need to make the whole package appealing, which means it has to be long-lasting, lowmaintenance, and visually attractive.

Western red cedar is a commonly used material for these outdoor projects because the homeowner doesn't have to compromise beauty for durability. Compounds in the wood naturally resist insects and decay in all climates, and the wood is known for its rich color and variety of tones. The even grain and consistent density make western red cedar less likely to swell, warp, cup or twist than other woods.

Durastrand Flooring features an enhanced edge-seal and an engineered blend of waxes and resins that block moisture and reduce or eliminate swelling even in harsh conditions. Plus it comes with a go-day no sand and 5o-year guarantee against delamination and manufacturing defects. co for the new choice in flooring, and forget the usual hassles and call-backs.

"Homeowners may initially save money with cheaper materials," says Richard White, an Oregon-based architect who specializes in custom homes. "But in the long run, they are holding down the potential value of their home."

Just like the prospective customer who looks for quality materials, homeowners seeking to upgrade their current living space also want high-quality, long-lasting materials. While they are living in their homes, they are more willing to spend more to make the improvements that they want most on materials such as western red cedar that add natural beauty and will last for years.

Sticking with what works

Residential contractors and homeowners should avoid popular fads when upgrading homes. Whether homeowners are fixing to sell or are improving their place for the long haul, traditionally popular materials maintain a home's appeal through years ofevolving fads.

"People trust building materials they know," White says. "If I grew up in a home with western red cedar siding, I know the qualities of the wood and what it will do for my home."

Long a traditional favorite, western red cedar has a number of qualities that make it a preferred, quality material for decking, siding, and the increasingly popular outdoor living spaces that can enhance a home's value, White says. Natural preservatives in the wood make it very durable for outdoor uses and curb appeal projects, even in more severe climates. Its texture and coloration give it a rich, natural beauty that enhances interiors as well, in features such as interior paneling, vaulted ceilings, trim and boxed-in beams.

The green movement

Retailers all across the country are experiencing the consumer-driven green movement. Contractors are increasingly concerned about energy efficiency. and homeowners give more thought to the renewable supplies of their materials.

Homeowners seeking to improve their residence look at the steps a product takes to reach their home. Retailers are increasingly supplying them with products furnished in a sustainable manner.

Good examples of earth-friendly materials are woods such as western red cedar, pine and fir, which are renewable resources that are grown and harvested sustainably. The environmental costs of production are much less in wood products than in mineral or synthetic materials. The natural properties of western red cedar further lessen a structure's environmental footprint by eliminating the need for chemical pressure treatments.

Homeowners are making long-term investments with sustainable materials. It is an investment in the resale value and an investment in quality of life.

When homeowners are upgrading a home, either to sell or to stay, they should look for materials with a tradition of quality, durability and environmental responsibility.