Log Siding

Cedar Grades and Seasoning

CUSTOMER SELECT Buffalo Grade - #3, STD&BTR (Standard and Better) Mill Grades - This is the first tier of appearance grade woods. This is the grade from which the Select Tight Knot mill grades are selected. Customer Select- means you the customer are selecting out defect from a higher grade. At this level the mill does not select the flaws but the grade of wood you are selecting from is higher to begin with.
 
Our Pre-Stained CUSTOMER SELECT (STD&BTR Mill Grade) 2x8" QTR Log Western Red Cedar Siding is for the rustic customer looking for the cheapest way to cover their home or cabin with cedar log siding and still have something very nice to show for their money and effort.
 
MILL SELECT - Tight Knot - is a visually inspected appearance grade that allows knots, burls and naturally occurring markings which are of fairly uniform distribution and add to the decorative character of the piece. Sound, live, small to medium tight knots (approx size of a quarter) permitted every 6 - 8 inches. MILL SELECT is usually KIlN or AIR Dried to 14% moisture content.

Partially Air Dried (PAD) cedar logs are still considered green. Moisture content is 20% or higher.
 
The fact is that all wood no matter how it is dried (seasoned) will expand and contract during the year due to moisture changes in the air. The thing about PAD green woods is that they are prone to changes of greater degree than fully air dried or kiln dried lumber. This means you must use patterns like QTR Log Siding that allow more room for wood expansion and contraction in their design - patterns that allow movement without compromising the overall appearance.
 
During the milling of green logs there will be some blown knots but our mills are saying less than 10% board loss. Milled Green PAD (partially air dried) is a cedar grade that is designed to ease the high cost of cedar. Get out your saw and cut around that knot hole and save a buck or two. If you can afford a flaw or two to save a buck or two this is the grade for you.
 
Buffalo Lumber U-Grade- Ugrade means you grade it. It is low grade lumber run to pattern. You will see holes up to the size of a dollar piece. There will be holes allowed in every board. U grade is usually priced at 50% of the market. We say to factor at least 20% safety margin on a U grade project. Net savings 30% over retail market prices.
 
Layman terms - if we were talking about a 2x8 U grade would allow a knot every 4 inches- some larger than a silver dollar. It will allow some peck and rot and a few other things. Every board will need to be trimmed.
 
If you are a customer who "loves" to work with wood you can get up to 95% use from this stuff (I know we did- just not always the intended use if you know what I mean). U grade is for rustic wood lovers who want to work around flaws (and include some) to save money on natural wood appearance products. Not for the timid. Warm up your saw arm. The possible job site waste on the Ugrade should be factored higher at 30% or more and then the goal is to use it all.
 
Read the story of how our customer in Missouri SAVED OVER $15,000 on his U-GRADE QTR LOG Cedar Order! And a few tips on how he plans to use every bit of that Cedar Log Siding!

BEST Price Deal for Your Money UGRADE 2x8 QTR Log! more pics...

A more detailed write-up of Cedar Grades and Seasoning can be found on our Western Red Cedar Siding page STK, STD&BTR NPS Cedar Grades and KD and Partially Air Dried (PAD) Cedar.

FACTORY FINISH = PEACE OF MIND

QTR Log Siding PRE Finished and Ready to Install!

A FACTORY FINISH ensures a lasting, higher quality job than traditional "on site" stain or prime applications. Factory finishing costs about half the amount of field staining. Pre-finishing your cedar siding eliminates the problems of lap marks, shrinklines, streaking, color variation, and job site dirt pick-up.

All four sides of the board, are completely sealed, ensuring total protection. Controlled temperature and humidity levels stabilize any moisture in the wood. The finished siding arrives at the job site totally protected from exposure to water and sunlight. Western Wood Products Association and the California Redwood Association recommend pre-finishing all wood siding including cedar!

If your selected pattern has one smooth side and one rough side, be sure to tell us which face you plan to expose. The pre-finisher will place the wet finished boards on the drying rack with your exposed face up so it does not dry with rack marks. Cedar is a durable wood, but leaving it untreated is not recommended since finishing will greatly increase it's service life.

All pre-finished prices include one coat Primed or Stained Cabot's, Sherwin Williams or Olympic standard color lines.