Woodman
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cedar is naturally durable and requires no treatment, the only reason for oiling or finishing the board with a sealant is to preserve its natural colour. To do this properly the product used must contain a UV filter and for a proper job the cladding should be sealed on the two faces and two edges, otherwise it the uv rays will bleach the natural tannins out of the timber. Cedar will last a lifetime and outlive any of us when used as an external cladding. Just look at the majority of housing in BC Canada for an example where their summers are hotter and winters are colder and wetter. Another good examples are Totum poles which are still standing throughout the states for many years and are made of Cedarwood which was sacred to the first natives.
Western Red Cedar is a Softwood mostly imported into Ireland from British Colombia. It is one of the most widely used timbers for Cladding as it has great stability, it is very durable and it is also inexpensive when compared to other tropical hardwoods such as Iroko and temperate hardwoods such as oak / chestnut. The grade most commonly used for cladding is Number 2 Clear & Better. This grade contains few if any knots, is heartwood only and any knots in the board are “live” and will not fall out. It can be used with or without treatment. The purpose of the treatment is only to help keep the natural colour of the wood and prevent weathering when the timber turns silver / grey. However the treratment (usually oil based) must contain a UV filter.
Some examples of Cedar around Dublin are as follows: UCD Virus Lab Extension (McCullagh Mulvin) this entire building is clad in Cedar. Thornwood Apartments Booterstown – just being built by PJ Hegarty on the Stillorgan Road, Adamstown Apartments in Newcastle/Lucan currently being built by Casterthorn Construction. Belarmine Estate in Stepaside is another job, there are plenty more but these are some good examples.As I said it before, the best company to use for Cedar Cladding are Machined Timber Services Ltd. They supply all types of profiles and have a great brochure. They are in kilcoole, Co.Wicklow. Tel 012812106. They have supplied me numerous times with no problems.
There is a great Sash Window company called WJ Bolger Conservation in Ardee St. Dublin 8. These guys make and restore all the old Sash windows. info@wjbolger.ie
A great company for Timber Cladding supplies are Machined Timber Services Ltd. in Kilcoole. They have supplied many jobs around Ireland in various different timbers. I have used them many times and if you want to talk to someone who knows this area inside out its them. [email]info@woodcomponents.ie / http://www.woodcomponents.ie
By the look of things, most of the new builds around town are all clad with timber sections and I can see it continuing for a while longer.
