Why We Love White Cedar

In 1947, Town + Country’s founders determined that Northern White Cedar was the most dependable, durable building product for the construction of natural wood homes. Over the years, we haven’t found cause to disagree. Northern White Cedar continues to be Town + Country’s preferred log home building material. Northern White Cedar is inherently and naturally resistant to decay and insects. Town + Country uses this remarkable wood exclusively for the weather-exposed portions of our building systems. Here’s why:

About Northern White Cedar

Northern White Cedar (Thuja Occidentalis) is a conifer and has a flat, yellow-green leaf. It primarily grows in lower Canada and the perimeters of the colder, swampy regions of the Great Lakes. The cold climate yields a slow-growth tree with tight rings. Tight rings mean stability in your home. When properly kiln-dried, Northern White Cedar will not twist, warp or shrink. The swampy growth regions produce a tree that is highly resistant to moisture over its 100-year life cycle. This means natural resistance to moisture and mildew-induced rot in your log home.

Characteristics of Northern White Cedar

The best for many reasons …

Insect- and decay-resistant: Northern White Cedar contains a natural preservative, Thujaplycin, within the tree itself that resists insects and decay. This is a prime reason why White Cedar is considered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the wood to use where a high degree of durability and resistance to the elements is necessary. It’s also why Northern White Cedar log paneling and siding have become the preferred choices for homeowners and log home builders.

Durable: Heartwood within the tree will last for generations. Sapwood easily decays and discolors. Northern White Cedar has minimal sapwood (approximately ¾-inch on a 10-inch diameter log). Through the sawing, shaping and peeling processes, all sapwood from Town + Country Cedar is removed.

Did you know? Sapwood is the reason why you see a black discoloring in some log homes, especially in pine structures. Pine logs have a large sap ring which is nearly impossible to remove and demands annual maintenance. This is not a problem with our kiln-dried Northern White Cedar.

Healthy: Northern White Cedar is a natural and environmentally safe choice for your family in part because of its closed-cell structure. The cell structure resembles that of a cork. Combined with natural oils, this inherent feature provides protection against internal mold and mildew. This also is important because properly kiln-dried Northern White Cedar will resist the absorption of moisture from the environment. When other woods absorb moisture from rain and air, and are then exposed to drying from wind and sun, “checking” and deterioration occur. Not so with Northern White Cedar. That’s why so many saunas are built with none other than Northern White Cedar log products!

Cost-effective: When you build your custom cabin with Northern White Cedar you’ll see a difference in your utility bills. The insulation factor of Northern White Cedar is among the highest of any wood. With a 1.41 R-factor per inch, Northern White Cedar log siding and paneling products will provide additional protection and warmth for your family in your custom cabin.