About Cedar and Home

What this site covers

Cedar and Home focuses on eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) as a construction material for outdoor structures — primarily fencing, decks, pergolas, and garden enclosures — in Canadian climates.

The content addresses practical questions that come up when sourcing, building with, or maintaining cedar lumber: how long it holds up in ground contact, how grain direction affects dimensional movement across seasons, and which finishes are compatible with the wood's extractive chemistry.

The geographic scope is eastern Canada, where Thuja occidentalis is native and widely available as rough-sawn and dimensional lumber. References to climate conditions and wood availability reflect conditions in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes unless otherwise noted.

Editorial approach

Content is drawn from publicly available wood science and building construction literature. Where specific figures are cited, a source is linked. Where precise data is unavailable or varies meaningfully by supplier, region, or application, the language reflects that uncertainty rather than offering a single number.

The site does not represent any lumber retailer, preservative manufacturer, or trade association. No products are endorsed.

Useful references

The following publicly available resources were consulted in preparing the content on this site:

• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources — Trees Ontario
• Natural Resources Canada — Wood Properties
• American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) — Standards
• USDA Forest Products Laboratory — Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190)

Contact

For corrections, editorial questions, or general inquiries, use the contact form on the homepage or write to info@cedarandhome.org.