Thread: Recycling Cedar Wall Panels?

Welcome to the forum.

Are you sure it's cedar and not red pine?

Hi rsser,

I am no expert on timber but every tradesman that visits tells me that is it cedar...?

The timber was originally left in its natural state when the home was first built and only painted within the last 10 years.

A 30 yr old house in Vic could be red cedar alright - Western Red Cedar (is that what you mean by 'red pine' Ern??) which is imported by the shipload from Nth America. A friend of mine built his house down there from a kit which was made up almost entirely of WRC. Was yours a 'kit' home, do you know? WRC has a characteristic smell, but that's not much help if you don't know it, of course.

WRC is a very durable (though soft) wood, which is useful & used a lot for joinery. Being a careful sort of character (some would say 'tight'!), I'd be looking to re-use as much of it as possible for any bits exposed to the elements. Not being a lover of dark internal panelling, I would paint it too, if it were inside...

And the bits you don't want would surely be useful to someone else, if they can be pulled apart without much trauma to the wood.

Cheers,

Thanks Ian, that is really helpful. We have learned from neighbours that the house was designed by the original owner herself who was an artist. Therefore it is definitely not a kit home.
I think i will get a few experts in a look at my options.

Many thanks,
C

G'day Chrystal

I build hollow timber surfboards from the stuff - particularly wall panels as they are already pretty close dimensions for what I do, and because I value using reclaimed/recycled timber over virgin stuff whenever possible.

It can be brittle and check easily, so be delicate with it if you want to keep it. The rot resistance of the heartwood is great, which is why it is used un-coated for houses, and for a lot of boat type stuff.

A reasonable test is to cut or plane a piece - it has a very strong and sweet smell when freshly exposed.

If you don't have a particular use for it, I'd happily buy it, or help do some demolition work in exchange, etc.

Mat