Cedar Sources and Costs

[john_l]

The recent post on aromatic cedar reminded me I want to build a patio roof similar to the ones you see here...
http://www.patioroofcovers.com/GabledRoofs/index.php

I think in the pictures it looks like they mainly used cedar. Which I really like the idea of.

Our house is located in Pa. but only about 1.5hrs from Washington DC. I would like to find a reasonably priced source for 2x8, 2x6, 1x6, 1x4, and maybe even the cedar roof decking it looks like they used in those pictures. All the mills in my area have very small quantities of any profile cedar and they are all very, very expensive.

I don't mind driving a little while gas is still under $5 a gallon. Any ideas?

Thanks!

[gc3]

www.bozovich.com (http://www.bozovich.com) follow the links to Spanish Cedar. It's gonna cost no matter where you go...




Gene Crain
www.plantasymaderas.com (http://www.plantasymaderas.com)

[coach]

I have bought wood from here before.
http://www.walllumber.com/soft.asp

[myxpykalix]

Try finding a sawmill locally. I buy logs from my guy then he charges for sawing them. You could save substantially doing it this way but will have to wait for them to dry.
If you can't find anyone more local I am about 1.5 hrs from DC in central Va. and could connect you locally here but it would be a 3 hour drive.

[bleeth]

The gables and carports in the link are Western Red Cedar. Those trees can grow massive. There are quite a few varieties of true cedar, but nearly all of what is known as cedar in the US is actually more related to cypress. The early settlers called them cedar as they looked much like the cedar they knew from Europe. They have different uses. The Spanish Cedar spoken of by Gene above, for example, is popularly used as humidor liners.
Prices vary considerably by region and species as well as supplier.
One of the great memories of my life is camping in the Olympic Peninsula surrounded by old growth cedar trees. Straight as an arrow, 2' diameters, and probably a hundred feet tall.