What are the choices?

Widths

Cedar T&G comes in different widths and grades. The most common widths are 3.5″ and 5.5″. We usually use 5.5″ widths on our projects. We installed 7.5″ boards as siding on a house over 20 years ago, but due to the width the boards cupped and we had to go back and face nail every board on the house- which was no fun at all! We haven’t had any issues with 5.5″ widths which we’ve used consistently for the past 20 years.

Grades & Finishes

There are a variety of grades and finishes for cedar tongue and groove ceilings

Clear with natural finish

• More refined appearance
• Virtually free of knots
• Natural finish lets the natural color variations come through

Tight Knot with natural finish

• More rustic in appearance
• Knots are closed (meaning minimal open holes)
• Natural finish lets the natural color variations come through

Engineered, Clear with natural finish

• Real clear cedar veneer over wood substrate
• More stable and consistent than solid cedar
• Less waste than solid cedar
• Natural finish lets the natural color variations come through

Check out Rainier Plank T&G here

Painted, Finger Joint

• Small pieces of cedar ‘finger-jointed’ together to make one long board
• 16′ and 20′ lengths for long spans with no seams
• More stable and consistent than solid cedar
• Less waste than solid cedar
• Can only be painted

Which is best for you?

The right choice depends on your style and budget is always a consideration. Of these 4 options, the Rainier Plank (#3) costs the most per lineal foot (however, there should be less waste than solid cedar). Clear (#1) is the second most expensive, Knotty (#2) is third and Primed (#4) is the least cost per foot.

As always, our design team is here to help you choose the best option for your project and budget. Let us know if we can help you with your upcoming project!