Contractor's Guide to Buying Western Red Cedar in Ontario

The fastest way to get a bad cedar quote is to ask for "some 1x6" and sort out the details later. Western Red Cedar is sold in different grades, moisture conditions, surface textures, profiles and length mixes. Two quotes can use the same nominal size and still describe materially different orders.

For contractors buying Western Red Cedar in Ontario, a clear purchase specification saves more time than another round of price negotiation. It also reduces substitutions, short shipments and arguments over what "clear" or "rough" was supposed to mean.

Write the use first

Western Red Cedar lumber for contractor ordering and takeoffs.

Start the request with the installed use: exterior siding, soffit, sauna lining, deck boards, exposed timbers, privacy fencing, trim or decorative interior work. The use tells the supplier which questions to ask.

A 2x6 for a bench, a deck and a structural member may need different grade, moisture and surfacing. Appearance lumber does not automatically carry structural design values. The designer should specify structural members, and the supplier should provide the required grade documentation.

Specify grade in plain language and in the purchase order

Clear and knotty are starting terms. A complete specification goes further. Clear cedar is selected when natural characteristics must be limited for appearance. Knotty grades allow sound knots and more variation. Within those groups, named grades and supplier descriptions can differ.

The Canadian Wood Council's overview of lumber grades explains the distinction between appearance grading and structural grading. The National Lumber Grades Authority is the recognized Canadian body responsible for lumber grading rules; its official site is the right place to verify grading terminology.

On a purchase order, state whether the material is for appearance only or must meet a structural grade. For exposed timbers, do not assume "appearance knotty" and "appearance knotty structural" are equivalent. Real Cedar's timber grades and specifications makes that distinction explicit.

Confirm nominal, rough, full-sawn and dressed dimensions

A nominal size is a trade name. The finished piece may be smaller after drying and surfacing. Rough-sawn cedar can also be supplied to different tolerances, and a full-sawn timber is not the same item as a conventional nominal timber.

State the dimensions you need at installation. For a post base, connector, routed detail or existing opening, write the acceptable finished tolerance. Quality Cedar Products lists both rough-sawn cedar and dimensional cedar lumber, so the quote should identify the intended surface and finished size.

For siding and paneling, include exposed face coverage. For T&G and shiplap, the nominal width does not equal the installed coverage. For beams and posts, identify rough-sawn, dressed four sides, boxed heart or free of heart centre where those characteristics matter to the design.

Moisture condition affects scheduling and movement

Ask whether the cedar is kiln-dried, air-dried or green. The word "dry" alone is too vague for a purchase order; the appropriate condition depends on the product and use.

Kiln-dried clear siding or paneling is often ordered when the finished dimensions and joint lines need to be predictable. Large timbers are commonly supplied green or air-dried. Green material can be appropriate, but the design and schedule must allow for drying, checking and dimensional change.

Store delivered lumber off the ground, supported evenly and protected from rain without sealing it in a wet bundle. Products that require acclimation should be given the time and airflow specified for the application.

Give the supplier a length tally

"8 to 16 feet" is not a length schedule. If a facade needs mostly 14- and 16-foot pieces, a random-length quote heavy in shorter stock will create joints, labour and waste that were not priced into the bid.

Prepare a tally by size and length. Separate mandatory full-length pieces from field material that can use random lengths. For timber work, identify each member. For siding, show wall runs, openings and where butt joints are acceptable. For decking, include picture-frame borders, stairs and blocking separately.

Compare the full landed cost

Contractors often receive one quote in linear feet, one in board feet and one by the piece. Convert them to the same installed quantity before comparing. Then check what each price includes.

• Grade and permitted characteristics: More trimming and sorting can erase a lower material price

• Actual face coverage: A wider nominal board may cover less than expected after the joint is milled

• Length mix: Short-heavy bundles increase joints, handling and waste

• Moisture condition: The material may require storage time or may move after installation

• Surfacing and custom milling: Rough, S4S and custom profiles have different yields and labour

• Packaging: Protected, labelled bundles are easier to stage and inspect

• Freight and fuel charges: A distant low unit price may have a higher delivered cost

• Unloading: A site without a forklift, telehandler or clear access needs another plan

• Lead time and replacement policy: One damaged custom board can hold up an elevation

Plan delivery before the truck leaves

Provide the delivery address, access restrictions, overhead hazards, turning space and unloading equipment. State whether the load is going to a yard, an occupied residence or an active site. Long timbers and full-length siding bundles need more room than a standard pallet.

Inspect the order promptly. Check bundle labels, sizes, profiles, lengths and visible transit damage before the material is scattered across the site. Photograph any issue and keep affected pieces available for review. A good claim is specific: purchase-order line, piece count, defect and photo.

Know when a wholesale account makes sense

Wholesale purchasing fits companies that order repeatedly, need large quantities, carry inventory or require custom sourcing. A one-off small project may not fit that model. The supplier needs enough information to plan species, grade, drying, milling, packaging and freight.

Quality Cedar Products' wholesale application asks for species, grade, drying method, order list, historical order summary and timing. Prepare those details before applying. Contractors sourcing large sections can also review the current cedar timber range.

Structural work needs code and design confirmation

For load-bearing work, the purchase must match the approved design. The designer must define grade, species, size, moisture condition, connections and member use. Ontario's Building Code information should be read alongside the project documents and the requirements of the local building department.

If a specified product is unavailable, send the proposed substitution back to the designer before ordering. A similar-looking cedar member may not have the same structural classification or design values.

Use this purchase-order checklist

• Project name, delivery address and site contact

• Installed use for each line item

• Species and complete grade description

• Appearance-only or required structural grade

• Profile, joint and exposed face

• Nominal and required finished dimensions

• Surface texture and exposed face

• Kiln-dried, air-dried or green condition

• Length tally and acceptable substitutions

• Quantity basis and waste allowance

• Required grade stamps, certificates or documentation

• Packaging, tagging and bundle sequence

• Delivery window, access and unloading method

• Approved shop drawing, sample or profile reference where applicable

• Procedure for shortages, damage and replacement pieces

Quality Cedar Products is a family-owned supplier based in Bancroft and serves retail customers across Ontario, with wholesale service across Canada and the United States. Read more about the company, then submit a detailed cedar quote request. Attach the tally or paste it into the order information so the supplier receives more than nominal sizes.

Technical note. This article is general procurement information. Structural design, code compliance, permits, grade requirements and substitutions must be confirmed through the project documents and qualified professionals.