Why you should be selling knotty cedar decking

fN a cnowmc remodeling lmarket dominated by materials with large marketing budgets, it's understandable why many consumers may be under the misconception that there are only a few popular decking choices availablethose being primarily of the composite variety.

That being said, there's one material that maY come as a surprise to consumers (and some retailers) that's quietly growing in popularity, and for all the right reasons: knotty western red cedar'

The green, sustainable characteristics of western red cedar are a well-known story, so we won't repeat ourselves. But here are seven top reasons why you may want to stock up on knotty western red cedar decking.

1. Lower price point

Comparatively speaking, even clear cedar is an affordable product, but knotty western red cedar, which is milled from younger trees and is more readily available than other grades, is available at an even lower price point, making it very cost effective to build with. A quick square-footage cost comparison between knotty and other decking materials is often all it takes for most consumers to choose knotty.

2. High performance

Knotty western red cedar, or thuja plicata, is probably the ideal building material for outdoor R&R projects, and even more so in high-moisture conditions. Naturally occurring phenols in the species prevent decay, rot and insects. Cedar's dense cell structure (about a million cells per cubic inch) minimizes shrinking and swelling, so it stays flat and is structurally solid. Also worth noting is the misconception that the knots will fall out over time. Knots are from live branches and are inter-grown into the deck board, so they will remain sound and tight through the life of the deck.

3, Different grades, different looks

The condition or character of the knots in the wood determines the grade of knotty western red cedar, and ultimately gives the consumer a wide range of looks from which to choose: from urbane and elegant to rustic and charming. Grades such as Architect Knotty and Custom Knotty, which have sound, tight knots and are popular choices with homebuilders, are proprietary grades to Western Red Cedar Lumber Association members.

4.

Hard-to-beat versatility

Knotty cedar is light and easy to work with, but the variety of looks and finishes that can be created is what really make its versatility unparalleled. Cedar (knotty or otherwise) is pitch- and resinfree and perfectly suited to take virtually any stain, finish or bleaching oil, giving the homeowner or builder myriad choices on the final look. Knotty cedar is also available in a variety of dimensions (although 2x4 and 2x6 are most common for decks).

5. lt's the rising star of deck materials

Although cedar has been around for a long time (First Nations and Native Americans have been building with it for centuries), knotty western red cedar as a decking material is making a comeback in a composite dominated market. Growing environmental awareness has certainly pushed its popularity, as has a trend to extend outdoor living spaces to blend in with and complement outdoor areas and natural landscaping. Louder calls for a possible land-fill tax to be added to the sale of composite materials may be helping as well.

6. Great for grilling burgers, not your feet

Whereas composite materials can heat up and actually burn bare feet in the summer, western red cedar stays cool under foot, even in the hottest weather, so it's always comfortable to walk on. Additionally, there's no risk of the surface softening due to heat, nor being marked from moving patio furniture or the like.

7. Knotty cedar just looks great

Despite the other reasons for choosing knotty western red cedar, the fact that it looks so good is likely the single biggest factor in its growing popularity. With natural colors ranging from honey-yellow to cinnamon-red to deep-sienna, and its rich, deep lustre, the natural warmth and beauty found in real cedar is matchless.

- For more on knotty u)estern red cedar, visit realcedar.com.