How to Order Cedar Lumber with Buffalo Lumber
All Buffalo Lumber orders are delivered MILL DIRECT to your JOB SITE. Our orders are custom milled and factory finished. All communication is handled personally - by phone and email.
Our normal lead time from order to door is 2 - 8 weeks.
Once your order is placed, we stay in email and phone contact with you throughout the course of your order. Your salesperson will be available to answer any questions you may have along the way. Delays, though unlikely, do happen and you'll be the first to know if that's the case. Buffalo Lumber takes pride in our products and customer service and we are committed to making sure your wood and experience with Buffalo Lumber is the best in the industry...from forest to front door.
We will get your order in the queue so it is ready when you are.
Get in touch with us via email at sales@buffalolumber.com, or call us at 877-960-9663, or fill out our contact form here.
CEDAR LUMBER FAQ
Q. What sizes do cedar beams and timbers come in?
A. Cedar beams typically range from 6×6 up to 12×12 in standard production. Larger or custom dimensions are also available for special projects. Lengths usually run from 6 to 20 feet, depending on grade and availability.
Q. Is cedar strong enough for gazebos, decks, pergolas, and outdoor structures?
A. Yes — cedar is strong and stable enough for most outdoor structures, including gazebos, decks, and pergolas. It’s not usually graded for structural use, so for heavy load‑bearing designs you should consult an engineer. For typical residential projects, cedar performs extremely well.
Q. How much do cedar beams cost?
A. Pricing varies widely based on size, length, and grade. A knotty 6×6 may start around $10 per lineal foot, while a clear 12×12 can reach $129 per lineal foot. Market conditions, tariffs, and availability can cause price fluctuations.
Q. What’s the difference between clear and knotty cedar lumber?
A. Clear cedar has strict limits on the number of visible knots — generally no more than four in a 12‑foot timber. Knotty cedar has no limit on knot count, only on knot size, and knots will be visible on all sides. Clear is chosen for appearance; knotty is chosen for character and cost savings.
Q. Does cedar lumber need to be treated or sealed?
A. Cedar does not need chemical treatment for outdoor use. Left unfinished, it will weather to a natural silver‑gray. If you want to preserve the warm brown‑gold tones, apply a high‑quality semi‑transparent stain.
"Timber-Frame"
I was at a Timber Frame show and the guy presenting spoke that term in disgust while describing people who use big cedar timbers as accent points instead of a real Mortise and Tenon Timber Framed structure.
I thought “What a great idea!”
Large Cedar Lumber beams and timbers are often used where both the strength and the appearance of the exposed wood beams are important especially in landscape, park and garden structures where weather resistance and natural wood look is desired.
Red Cedar Lumber has exceptional resistance to insects and decay, moderate strength, moderately soft, light in weight, completely non-resinous, works easily and is dimensionally stable with the lowest shrinkage of any North American Softwood species.
That plus its own natural preservative oils makes cedar lumber beams and timbers the perfect choice for your Pergola, Gazebo or Garden Arbor project.
