 WOOD SPECIES NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR Pigeon Creek Log Homes specializes in Northern White Cedar, which ranks very high among the species of wood used to build log homes. The softwood, known scientifically as THUJA OCCIDENTALIS, also goes by the name arborvitae, or simply, CEDAR. It is produced in the greatest quantities in Canada, Maine and the Great Lakes states. All though it is a difficult tree to harvest, its many aesthetic and structural advantages make up for this. Northern White Cedar grows in the damp swampland and can be harvested only when the winter's chill freezes the ground sufficiently to support the weight of loggers and their heavy equipment. NWC is an extremely slow growing tree. The wood is one of the most versatile. Its molecular structure gives it a high thermal efficiency. It is nearly impervious to insects, rot and fungi. It requires little maintenance. It is easy to handle, dimensionally stable, and as durable as it is beautiful. The wood is lightweight, rather soft, and low in strength and shock resistance. It shrinks very little in drying. |
