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Scott R., Washington

Thank you for personalizing this experience and following up with me. That means a lot. We're looking forward to receiving the chairs and other items. I'll stay in touch concerning follow up orders to furnish our cabin.

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

Log Furniture Finishing

Red cedar furniture owners have it easy; finishing is optional them, because the wood is resistant to decay and insect pests. In contrast, white cedar furniture is most protected when it is finished, even though the two trees are closely related.

What makes white cedar logs different from red cedar wood? The answer is that although the white cedar wood has the same cell properties, it lacks the natural acidic tannins fluid that helps preserve red cedar.

When left outside, white cedar will turn to a handsome silvery color. Inside, it will darken slightly.

There are many different types of finish available to choose from. One option is wood sealer, a liquid finish that blocks the pores of the wood by quickly changing into a solid state after it has been applied. This blocks the grain from becoming raised, but still allows it to fade to a silvery-gray color.

Paint is not recommended for cedar wood, unless the piece will be in an area with no sunlight. If cedar furniture is painted and put in a sunny area, over time the sun will cause the moisture stuck in its fibers to evaporate. This will result in cracking and peeling, leaving a mess that needs to be sanded and finished again.

The preferable treatment to keep your white cedar furniture both long lasting and looking good is a stain. There are many different types of full color and transparent stains on the market. Some log furniture owners re-apply the stain every 3-5 years, although this probably isn’t necessary unless the furniture is outside. If your goal is a covering that will not trap moisture and cause peeling, stain is a great solution for your white cedar furniture. The light color of white cedar will look good with a variety of different stain options.

Many of our Amish suppliers do apply a clear lacquer to red cedar furniture, which helps preserve its redness, especially when exposed to the sunlight. We have never seen any other color of finish applied to red cedar, and, although not needed to preserve the wood itself, a clear lacquer finish really does preserve and highlight the beauty of red cedar wood.

Labels: finishing, log furniture, red cedar, white cedar