Cedar wood is the predominant timber species used for constructing garage doors as side hinged or up and over one piece doors.
Cedar wood is a species of timber that is often used for furniture, cabinetry, interior joinery, bridge and house construction, outdoor furniture and is almost exclusively used for garage door construction. Whilst there are many different types of cedar, all types share some properties. One of the most frequently used cedars, and the type used primarily in garage door construction, is Western Red Cedar due to its exceptional conductivity, durability, acoustic properties, density, and flame spreading ratio, which means it is resistant to fire.
Thermal Conductivity
• Of all available softwood species, cedar tends to be one of the best thermal insulators. This is due to its high proportion of air spaces and its low density. When a material has good thermal conductivity, it means that it can keep buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Western Red Cedar is especially superior to steel, concrete, and brick in this respect.
Durability
• One of the greatest testaments to cedar's durability is the number of old artifacts made of cedar that remain in good condition after hundreds of years of wear and tear. According to the Western Red Cedar Export Association, native people who lived on the Pacific coast used the cedar because of its long lasting qualities and used it in many of their buildings. When cedar is maintained and finished, the wood tends to last at least several decades. Cedar also tends to be about 80% as strong as the Oak tree, with bacterial and fungal resistance as well. (It also keeps away moths.)
Acoustic Properties
• Cedar, like some other timbers, has the ability to dampen sound vibrations. The cellular network of interlocking pores found in wood changes sound energy into heat, making it ideal for the floor, ceiling, and wall when attempting to insulate and absorb sound. Cedar can be used to reduce noise and confine it to particular areas if it is needed in your home.
Density
• Cedar is one of the lightest softwoods available commercially at around 22 pounds per cubic foot with a specific gravity of 0.35. In comparison, Douglas Fir has a density of 31 pounds per cubic foot, Ponderosa Pine has 27 pounds per cubic foot, and Southern Pine has 34 pounds per cubic foot of density. When wood has a low density it is typically a good insulator as well.
Flame Spreading Ratio
• When a building material has a lower flame spreading rating, it is more resistant to the spread of fire. Certain wood products are not allowed to be built into the interior of a house because it has too high a flame spreading rating. The Western Red Cedar and other cedars are well within the building code needs for their flame spreading ratio. Cedar also tends to cause less smoke in a fire.
Although most garage doors are constructed in Cedar wood as standard, we are able to offer many other timber species as required although sizes may be more restricted. Typical examples include Iroko, European Oak, Douglas Fir, Cherry and Larch to names a few.
