Homeowners all over America
are opting for cedar for their exterior wood door. So, what makes this wood a top choice? Here are six key
reasons why cedar is one of the best options for exterior doors:
6 Benefits of Cedar Front
Doors
- Durability
- Amazing Smell
- High-end Look
- Moisture Control
- Insect Repellent
- Fungus Resistant
A cedar
front door is a solid choice for any home, but not all cedar is the same. There are several species
available, each with its own advantages. In this article, we'll cover the different types of cedar, the best
stains to use, and how to maintain your door to keep it looking great for years.
Choosing the Right Cedar: Types of Cedar
Wood Explained
All types
of cedar wood share the same core benefits—durability, resistance to moisture and insects, a pleasant smell, and
antimicrobial properties. However, they differ in appearance, grade (how knotty the wood is), and availability.
Here are the six cedar varieties available for wood doors:
- Western Red Cedar
- Inland Red Cedar
- Incense Cedar
- Yellow Cedar
- Eastern Red Cedar
- Eastern White Cedar
Of these varieties, western red
cedar is the most popular choice because of its deep reddish-brown color and defined wood grain.
When stained with a clear finish, it gives a beautiful, rich color that complements any home’s exterior
appearance. And because western red cedar trees grow so tall and have a wide trunk diameter, this wood tends to
have fewer knots than the other cedar varieties. Western red cedar is a great option for those looking for a
stunning rustic door.
Inland red cedar and
western red cedar are the same species, but they grow in different regions. Inland red cedar grows in the Rocky
Mountains, so the trees are smaller in height and diameter than western red cedar, which grows on the coast. Inland
red cedar is has more knots and generally has a lighter wood tone than western red cedar.
Incense cedar is another
popular cedar choice, as it has a strong, pleasant fragrance. It’s much lighter in color than the other cedar
varieties, but still has lovely red tones.
Alaskan yellow cedar is
less common for entry doors. As the name implies, this wood has a characteristic yellow tone that sets it apart from
the other cedar types.
Lastly,
we have eastern red and white cedar. These are generally less common due to
availability. However, they may be more popular wood choices in regions where they are natively
available.
Eastern red
cedar is knotty and has a beautiful red hue. Eastern white cedar isn’t typically used for entry doors, as it has
a pale white to light brown color. People usually favor the characteristic red tones and unique wood grain of
the other cedar varieties for wooden front doors.
6 Benefits of Cedar Front
Doors
No matter
which cedar variety you pick or is available in your area, they all come with amazing benefits. Let’s dive into
what you’ll receive when you buy a new cedar front door.
1. Durability
Durability is one of the most important
qualities of any exterior door. Exterior doors—whether they’re entry
doors, patio doors,
or a garage door—need to be able to withstand the harsh elements. This is especially true for wood
doors, which can warp or swell if not properly sealed or constructed.
Cedar
exterior doors are the most durable solid wood doors. They beat all other types of wood when it comes to moisture, fungus, and insect
resistance. This is because cedar contains natural aromatic oils that repel insects and fungus and protect it
from moisture. This makes it much more resistant to rot and decay, making it more durable for exterior use than
many other wood types.
Plus, cedar
is a hardwood, which makes it an all-around more durable wood type. This means it’s less prone to warping,
swelling, shrinking, or damage. All these qualities also mean that cedar requires less maintenance than other
treated woods.
Cedar’s
natural resistance to common outdoor threats and its low maintenance make it an ideal choice for exterior wood
doors. Rustica only uses cedar wood for all exterior doors because of its incredible durability. This allows us
to guarantee all our customers receive the highest-quality wooden door that will last them for years to
come.
2. Amazing
Smell
Cedar’s
aromatic oils have the added benefit of smelling amazing. Not only do they protect the wood from fungus,
insects, and moisture, but the oils also give off a wonderful pine-like aroma that fills the atmosphere around
it.
Imagine
walking up to your beautiful wood front door and being greeted with a pleasant fragrance. It’s the perfect
welcome home, and a great way to impress your guests.
While we’ve
talked a lot about cedar exterior doors, cedar can also be used for interior door styles. As an interior door,
cedar adds warmth to a space with its rich color and pleasant aroma. It sets the tone for cozy cabin or rustic
style homes, giving off a refreshing mountain forest scent.
3. High-end
Look
One of the main
reasons homeowners are attracted to cedar (besides it’s durability) is its natural color and wood grain. Cedar
offers a range of red hues, from lighter shades to deeper, richer tones. Even within the same piece of wood, the
color can vary, adding character and depth.
Many people
choose cedar for its natural beauty. Unlike other woods, cedar doesn’t need a colored glaze to look stunning. A
clear finish is enough to showcase its rich color and unique grain patterns.
In
comparison, many people will choose a wood species like knotty alder for interior doors. Knotty alder doors are affordable and stain well. However, they don’t
have the same rich color as cedar. To give them more character, people will stain them a darker wood finish,
such as red mahogany or American walnut, to give the door a high-end look.
As such,
cedar inherently has a high-end look that perfectly complements any door style. Whether you need a modern front door for
your contemporary style home or rustic doors for your modern farmhouse,
cedar is an excellent wood choice!
4. Moisture
Control
We all know
that oil and water don’t mix well. This same concept is true for cedar doors, which contains high amounts of
aromatic oils and resins. Cedar’s oils create a natural protective layer over the wood, making it naturally
moisture-resistant. In the forest, cedar takes much longer to break down than other trees because of these
aromatic oils.
When you
combine cedar’s natural moisture resistance with a high-quality finish, you get a door that can stand up to
heavy rain and snow. There are even accounts where people’s homes have flooded and their cedar wall paneling was
completely fine. This just shows how incredible cedar is for moisture control, making it a great entry door for
all climates.
5. Insect
Repellent
The same
cedar fragrance we find inviting is what keeps insects away. Cedar produces its oil as an intelligent protective
mechanism against insects that could damage or even kill the tree. These aromatic oils remain strong in the wood
even after it’s cut, helping protect doors and outdoor furniture from insect damage.
Cedar is
resistant to most insects, including ants, termites, cockroaches, and moths. For this reason, it is a favored
wood species for dressers and clothing chests.
6. Fungus
Resistant
Just as
cedar produces essential oils to ward off insects, it also produces these oils as a natural immune response to
bacteria and fungi. Cedar oil is antimicrobial, meaning it deters and prevents pathogenic fungi and
bacteria.
This means
that a cedar entry door, decks, and furnishings are highly resistant to rot and decay. Cedar wood is incredibly
long-lasting due to its protective oils, making it suitable for exterior doors and storm doors.
To ensure
your cedar exterior door lasts for years to come, you’ll want to finish it with a high-quality protective glaze.
Even though it is naturally fungus resistant, unfinished cedar will eventually break down. A properly finished
cedar door can last several years, especially if it’s well-maintained.
Best Stains for Cedar
When designing a custom cedar door with
Rustica, you’ll have several wood finishes to choose between. After choosing your preferred door type,
you’ll can choose cedar for your wood species. Then, you’ll pick your preferred wood finish.
Because of
cedar’s rich color and grain, we recommend the clear or glaze clear wood finishes to bring out cedar’s natural
wood highlights. However, we also offer several stains to choose from. Keep in mind that cedar’s natural tones may
still come through the finish, so you’ll want to choose a complementary wood stain. Grey or ebony may not be the
best choice, but walnut, provincial, or mahogany may work well with cedar’s red hues.
For example,
say you want a luxurious mahogany door, but need the practical benefits of cedar. In this case,
you can choose the red mahogany wood stain, which will give the doors a rich mahogany color.When ordering a custom
door with Rustica, you can stain the door yourself if you prefer. Simply choose the raw unfinished or
finish ready wood finish option. If you’ve never stained a door before, check out our related blog, “How to Stain a Wood Door” for helpful tricks and tips.
We do not
recommend painting cedar, as the knots, grain, and color tones may show through.
How to Maintain a Cedar Door
Regularly inspecting and maintaining
your cedar door is the best way to ensure it lasts for years to come. Thankfully, maintaining a cedar door is
very easy and simple. Every few weeks, you’ll want to inspect the door and its hinges to check for any damage.
If there is any, you'll want to schedule a time to do door repair as soon as
possible.
At least
once a year, clean your door with a rag and soapy water. Don’t use harsh cleaning chemicals, bleach, or a power
washer. After washing your door, re-seal it with a high-quality door finish. You’ll want to apply at least two
coats of finish to ensure the door is properly sealed against the elements.In humid
climates, you might need to apply extra coats or use a specialized wood sealant to block moisture and
prevent the door from swelling.
Design Custom Cedar Front Doors with
Rustica
Cedar is the best
wood species for an exterior entry door. They are incredibly durable, smell amazing, have a high-end look, and
repel moisture, fungus, and insects.
Ready to
design a cedar door for your home? Start creating your custom luxury door with
Rustica today! Whether you're looking for a Dutch door, double
door,
French
door or something in
between, we’ve got you covered. Simply explore doors on your website and call our design
team at 1-800-891-8312 to get
started.
