Cedar: Nature's Outdoor Wood
When people think of wood that can withstand the elements without chemical treatment, cedar is usually the first species that comes to mind. Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Western red cedar (Thuja plicata), and Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) all share the natural decay resistance, insect repellency, and dimensional stability that have made cedar a cornerstone of outdoor construction for hundreds of years.
Reclaimed cedar — salvaged from old barns, fence rows, water tanks, shingle siding, and even boat building — offers all of cedar's natural advantages plus the character and density that comes from slow growth and decades of aging. Here is what you need to know about working with this exceptional material.
Species Overview
Eastern Red Cedar
Eastern red cedar is the most common cedar species we encounter in reclaimed form in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is technically a juniper, not a true cedar, but the name has stuck for centuries. The heartwood is a distinctive reddish-purple to pinkish-brown color, often with streaks of creamy white sapwood. It is intensely aromatic — the same scent you associate with cedar closets and hope chests.
Reclaimed eastern red cedar is most commonly salvaged from old fence posts, barn lining, and cedar chests. The wood is relatively hard for a softwood (Janka hardness around 900 lbf) and extremely resistant to decay and insect damage. The natural oils that give cedar its distinctive scent are the same compounds that repel moths, termites, and wood-boring beetles.
Western Red Cedar
Western red cedar is softer and lighter than its eastern cousin (Janka hardness around 350 lbf), with a warm reddish-brown color that weathers to a distinguished silver-gray when left unfinished outdoors. We occasionally encounter reclaimed western red cedar from old water tanks, dock pilings, and shake roofing salvaged from historic buildings.
Atlantic White Cedar
Atlantic white cedar is the rarest of the three in reclaimed form and the most historically significant in our region. This species grew abundantly in the coastal swamps of Virginia and the Carolinas and was the preferred boat-building and shingle wood from the colonial era through the 19th century. Reclaimed Atlantic white cedar is lightweight, straight-grained, and exceptionally resistant to water damage.
Why Reclaimed Cedar Is Superior
The natural oils that give cedar its decay resistance are concentrated in the heartwood and increase as the tree ages. Old-growth cedar trees, which could reach 500 to 1,000 years of age, produced heartwood with oil concentrations far higher than the 30- to 50-year plantation cedar available today. When you work with reclaimed cedar from century-old structures, you are getting wood that was cut from these ancient, oil-rich trees — a resource that simply does not exist in modern forestry.
Additionally, reclaimed cedar has already proven its durability. A cedar fence post that has been in the ground for 80 years and is still sound has demonstrated a level of decay resistance that no laboratory test can fully predict. That proven track record is a powerful endorsement of the material's quality.
Applications for Reclaimed Cedar
- Outdoor furniture: Adirondack chairs, garden benches, and patio tables built from reclaimed cedar combine beauty with natural weather resistance. No chemical treatment needed.
- Raised garden beds: Cedar is one of the few woods safe for direct soil contact in vegetable gardens. Its natural oils resist rot without leaching chemicals into the soil.
- Closet lining: The aromatic oils in reclaimed cedar repel moths and give closets a pleasant, natural scent. Reclaimed cedar closet lining has more oil and more aroma than kiln-dried new cedar.
- Exterior siding and trim: Reclaimed cedar siding offers unmatched character for exterior applications, with each board carrying the patina of its previous life.
- Fence and gate construction: Cedar fencing is a natural fit, and reclaimed cedar posts and pickets add rustic charm to property boundaries.
Working Tips
Reclaimed cedar machines easily with sharp tools. Its softness means it can dent and scratch more easily than hardwoods, so handle it carefully during installation. For outdoor applications, we recommend leaving cedar unfinished to weather naturally, or applying a UV-protective oil finish if you want to preserve the original color. Avoid film-forming finishes (polyurethane, paint) on outdoor cedar — they trap moisture and peel, accelerating decay rather than preventing it.
When cutting reclaimed cedar, especially eastern red cedar, take a moment to appreciate the aroma. It is one of the small pleasures of working with this remarkable wood — a scent that connects you to the forests and craftsmen of centuries past.