Redwood vs Cedar: Best Coastal Wood for Pergolas, Pavilions & Gazebos
Redwood and cedar are both excellent coastal woods: redwood emphasizes Coast Redwood’s rich color, low movement, and durable heartwood, while cedar emphasizes light weight, aroma, workability, and natural outdoor character. Douglas Fir remains our standard inland, while coastal customers most often order cedar or redwood for exposed outdoor structures.
What is the best coastal wood for pergolas, pavilions, and gazebos?
For the coast, the decision is usually redwood vs cedar—not a search for a single universal winner. Redwood fits buyers who prioritize Coast Redwood color and dimensional stability; cedar fits buyers who prefer a warm, lightweight, aromatic timber with its own natural durability and appearance.
This article owns the coastal redwood-or-cedar decision. For the broader question of which of four woods works best overall, see the full four-species timber pergola comparison. That page covers the wider species picture, while this article focuses on coastal redwood, Western Red Cedar, and Incense Cedar.
Redwood and Cedar, Side by Side
Redwood vs cedar: quick comparison
Redwood generally stands out for rich color and low movement, while cedar stands out for light weight, aroma, workability, and warm outdoor character.
| Comparison point | Coast Redwood | Cedar used by Western Timber Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sequoia sempervirens | Incense Cedar, Calocedrus decurrens |
| Decay resistance | USDA Forest Products Laboratory classifies redwood heartwood as resistant to very resistant to decay. | USDA Forest Products Laboratory classifies Incense Cedar heartwood as resistant or very resistant to decay. |
| Insects and fungi | Natural heartwood extractives inhibit termites and decay fungi. | Natural heartwood extractives inhibit termites and decay fungi. |
| Movement | Approximately 6.8% volumetric shrinkage in the cited comparison. | Low movement and useful dimensional stability when properly selected and prepared. |
| Weight and handling character | A comparatively light exterior timber with a strong structural appearance. | Lightweight cedar character that many buyers value for large outdoor structures. |
| Appearance | Rich red to reddish-brown tones that may weather toward silver-gray. | Warm golden, light brown, or reddish tones with a recognizable cedar character. |
| Typical buyer priority | Color, low movement, and Coast Redwood identity. | Light weight, aroma, workability, and warm outdoor character. |
The USDA Forest Products Laboratory places cedar and redwood heartwood in resistant or very resistant decay classifications. The classification applies to naturally durable heartwood, not automatically to sapwood or to every condition in which timber may be used.
USDA Forest Products Laboratory guidance also states that cedar and redwood have less tendency to warp than commonly treated pine species. That is a comparative material property, not a promise that either species will remain motionless in humid coastal air.
Which cedar species are being compared?
Species precision matters because “cedar” is not one universal wood. Most general outdoor-wood articles mean Western Red Cedar, while Western Timber Frame fabricates Incense Cedar.
| Species | Scientific name | Movement and handling | Heartwood extractives | Typical visual or material reason to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast Redwood | Sequoia sempervirens | Very low volumetric shrinkage in the cited comparison; approximately 6.8%. | Heartwood extractives inhibit termites and decay fungi. | Rich red color, low movement, and a distinctive Coast Redwood appearance. |
| Western Red Cedar | Thuja plicata | Often selected for light weight and dimensional stability. | Heartwood extractives inhibit termites and decay fungi. | The cedar discussed in many general pergola and outdoor-wood articles. |
| Incense Cedar | Calocedrus decurrens | Lightweight, workable, and suitable for custom exterior timber preparation. | Heartwood extractives contribute to natural resistance to decay organisms and insects. | The cedar species Western Timber Frame fabricates for custom structures. |
Western Red Cedar and Incense Cedar should not be treated as interchangeable labels. Ask which cedar species is being supplied, how much exposed material is heartwood, and how the timber will be prepared for the project.
What makes Coast Redwood a strong coastal wood?
Coast Redwood is a strong coastal choice because its heartwood combines natural decay resistance, low movement, and a recognizable reddish color.
Coast Redwood is Sequoia sempervirens, the species most people mean when they search for a coast redwood pergola or redwood pergola. Its colored heartwood contains natural extractives that inhibit termites and decay fungi, and USDA Forest Products Laboratory classifications place redwood heartwood in the resistant to very resistant range for decay.
Redwood’s approximately 6.8% volumetric shrinkage in the cited comparison is lower than the approximately 12.3% figure for pine or fir. Exact movement still depends on moisture content, grain, cut, member size, and preparation, but lower shrinkage helps explain why redwood is valued in humid coastal air.
Redwood can also weather toward silver-gray when exposed to sun, rain, and salt air. A finish can preserve more of the original color, while natural weathering can be part of the intended appearance.
What makes cedar a strong coastal wood?
Cedar is a strong coastal choice because its heartwood offers natural durability, light weight, workability, aroma, and warm exterior character.
Incense Cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, is the cedar species Western Timber Frame fabricates. USDA Forest Products Laboratory information places Incense Cedar heartwood in the resistant or very resistant decay class.
Many general articles use “cedar” to mean Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata. That wood is also widely recognized for natural heartwood durability, light weight, and dimensional stability, but a precise comparison should identify the species rather than treating every cedar as identical.
A cedar pergola or cedar pavilion can therefore be both a material choice and a design choice. Buyers often select cedar for its warm tone, natural aroma, lighter handling character, grain, and ability to work well in custom braces, decorative beam ends, and timber joinery.
How long does redwood last outside?
Redwood and cedar heartwood can take decades to decay above ground, but the honest service-life answer depends on heartwood content, timber size, moisture exposure, drainage, detailing, and the difference between a test piece and a complete structure.
T. L. Highley’s 1995 USDA Forest Products Laboratory study placed redwood heartwood and Western Red Cedar heartwood in the most-resistant group in an above-ground Wisconsin test. The study reported an expected average service life of more than 20 years for test pieces similar in size to those tested.
That supports the phrase “takes decades to decay above ground,” not an absolute lifespan promise. A large beam, a post end, a shaded joint, and a well-drained exposed face do not experience moisture in exactly the same way.
Heartwood selection, end-grain protection, air movement, suitable fasteners, finish choice, and structural detailing still matter for a redwood pergola, cedar pavilion, gazebo, redwood arbor, or redwood trellis. Western Timber Frame sprays the finish onto every face and end grain in its shop before a coastal kit ships.
Do redwood and cedar naturally inhibit termites and decay fungi?
Yes. USDA Forest Products Laboratory guidance identifies natural heartwood extractives in redwood and cedar as contributors to resistance against decay fungi and termites.
Those extractives include naturally occurring tannins, oils, and related compounds concentrated in the colored heartwood. The wording should remain “inhibit” and “resistant,” because natural extractives reduce susceptibility without creating an absolute barrier against every insect, moisture condition, or construction detail.
The same principle applies to both woods: the heartwood matters. Sapwood contains much less of the natural extractives associated with decay and insect resistance.
Are redwood and cedar chemical-free outdoor wood?
Redwood and cedar can provide outdoor durability through naturally occurring heartwood extractives rather than injected preservative chemicals.
The phrase “chemical-free outdoor wood” is best understood here as wood whose durability comes from natural tannins, oils, and other extractives instead of pressure-injected preservatives. It does not mean the wood contains no chemicals, and it does not remove the need for drainage, appropriate fasteners, sound detailing, finish selection, or periodic care.
In a pressure-treated vs redwood comparison, pressure-treated lumber receives protection through a preservative treatment process, while redwood and cedar rely substantially on natural properties already present in their heartwood. The right material depends on the species, exposure, structure, engineering, and owner’s material priorities.
Why does shrinkage matter in humid coastal air?
Lower shrinkage can help a timber structure hold its proportions more consistently as the wood gains and loses moisture in coastal air.
Wood changes dimension as its moisture content changes below the fiber-saturation point. The amount of movement varies by species and by radial, tangential, and longitudinal direction.
The approximately 6.8% volumetric shrinkage figure for redwood versus approximately 12.3% for pine or fir helps explain redwood’s reputation for dimensional stability. Cedar also performs well in this category, although exact movement depends on the cedar species, cut, moisture condition, and timber dimensions.
Lower movement does not mean zero movement. Cedar checking is a normal timber behavior influenced by grain orientation, drying, end-grain exposure, member size, and moisture cycling. Proper preparation and detailing are more useful than treating checking as a reason to dismiss cedar. Before installation near salt air, Western Timber Frame air-dries its timber to roughly 12–19% moisture.
Is kiln dried cedar good for outdoor use?
Kiln dried cedar can be suitable for outdoor use when its moisture condition, grain, grade, member size, and intended exposure are appropriate.
For a buyer searching kiln dried cedar outdoor, kiln drying by itself does not answer every structural question. Large timber sections, CNC joinery, humid coastal air, and the final installation environment all affect how a member moves after fabrication.
For cedar pavilion kits or redwood pavilion kits, the practical evaluation includes species, heartwood, grain, moisture condition, dimensions, joinery, finish, and engineering together.
Why do coastal customers choose redwood or cedar in these states?
Customers in Gulf, Atlantic, and Pacific coastal states commonly compare redwood and cedar because both offer natural heartwood character for humid, wet, salt-air, and exposed outdoor structures.
| Coastal state or region | Why customers there choose redwood or cedar |
|---|---|
| Florida | Buyers often compare the two woods for humid air, heavy rain, salt exposure, and outdoor structures around pools and living spaces. UF/IFAS lists redwood and cedar among naturally rot-resistant lumber choices. |
| Texas Gulf Coast | Redwood and cedar are considered for shaded, rain-exposed structures where heartwood durability and dimensional movement matter. Texas A&M AgriLife names redwood and cedar among the best woods for outdoor projects. |
| Louisiana | Coastal and flood-aware projects bring natural heartwood, drainage, finish, and elevated detailing into the material discussion. LSU recommends redwood and cedar heartwood for outdoor use. |
| Alabama | Gulf humidity and wetting cycles make redwood and cedar useful species to compare for open outdoor timber structures. |
| Mississippi | Coastal buyers often weigh natural heartwood character, movement, appearance, and site-specific structural design together. |
| Georgia | Customers compare cedar’s warm character with redwood’s color and low movement for humid coastal outdoor living areas. UGA notes cedar’s natural rot resistance in its outdoor lumber guidance. |
| South Carolina | Redwood and cedar give buyers two naturally durable heartwood paths for pavilions, pergolas, pool structures, and gazebos. Clemson lists redwood and cedar among natural woods that are slow to decay. |
| North Carolina | Wet coastal conditions make species, heartwood, movement, appearance, detailing, and engineering useful comparison points. NC State calls redwood and cedar heartwood optimal for outdoor construction. |
| California | Redwood is the locally associated coastal species, while cedar remains a strong alternative for buyers who prefer its color, aroma, and lighter character. UC notes redwood is very resistant to water-associated rot. |
This is a material-selection guide, not a state-by-state determination of wind, flood, wildfire, snow, setback, foundation, or permit requirements. The site and local authority still control those questions.
How does heavy timber behave around wildfire and fire exposure?
Heavy timber has fire-resistive behavior because substantial members can char slowly rather than igniting fast, which is one reason building codes treat heavy-timber construction differently from smaller wood members.
Fire performance still depends on member size, design, exposure, surrounding materials, ignition sources, site conditions, and local requirements. Western Timber Frame’s California ignition-resistant requirements for timber shelters page provides the California WUI context.
How does Western Timber Frame build coastal redwood and cedar structures?
Western Timber Frame sells both woods, has built more than 7,000 structures, and sends a high percentage of the structures shipped to Gulf and Atlantic coast states in redwood or cedar after buyers review the material choice.
Many coastal homeowners do not realize that redwood ships nationwide. Coastal customers most often order cedar or redwood, and the choice is usually made after comparing species, heartwood, appearance, movement, structure, and site conditions.
Every kit is CNC-precut with The Dovetail Difference joinery, using interlocking timber-to-timber construction with no visible metal brackets. Kits are pre-stained before shipping and carry a structural warranty with terms set by timber series. Western Timber Frame has received 28 Best of State Awards.
The same coastal material decision applies to a redwood arbor, redwood trellis, cedar pergola, cedar pavilion, gazebo, or another custom timber structure. The wood is only one part of the project; joinery, drainage, finish, structural sizing, connections, and the site work together.
See the pergola kits page for kit construction and available configurations. Published size-and-series information is available on the custom pergola pricing page.
How is an engineered coastal pergola designed for wind and snow?
Western Timber Frame structures carry standard engineering: wind design starts from a 115 mph ultimate design speed at Exposure B, with stamped snow calculations from 30/50 psf ground snow.
For coastal wind zones and higher wind requirements, we engineer site-specific upgrades such as bigger beams, bigger lags and timbers, and bolting posts down to concrete. Shane Watson, PE (Utah #5206456-2202) seals our structural engineering packages.
Where the jurisdiction requires sealed drawings we coordinate stamped drawings through a PE licensed in that state. The local authority decides what the jurisdiction requires and whether submitted drawings are acceptable for that site.
See the pergola engineering page, the Hurricane Irma pergola case study, and the technical discussion of wind, snow, and seismic load combinations on a pergola.
How should a coastal buyer choose between redwood and cedar?
Choose redwood when Coast Redwood color, low movement, and durable heartwood are the leading priorities; choose cedar when light weight, aroma, workability, and warm outdoor character matter most.
Both are strong coastal answers when the species, heartwood, detailing, engineering, finish plan, and local review match the project. The best coastal wood for pergola construction is determined by the relationship between the material and the site, not by a generic ranking.
If the question is specifically Douglas Fir vs Redwood or Redwood vs Douglas Fir, use the broader species comparison linked above. Douglas Fir remains Western Timber Frame’s standard inland, while this article stays focused on the coastal redwood-or-cedar decision.
Frequently asked questions
Is redwood or cedar better for a coastal pergola?
Both are excellent coastal choices. Redwood emphasizes Coast Redwood’s low movement, rich color, and naturally durable heartwood, while cedar emphasizes light weight, aroma, workability, and natural outdoor character. The better fit depends on the exact cedar species, heartwood content, exposure, structure, finish plan, and site-specific engineering rather than on a universal winner.
How long does redwood last outside?
Highley’s 1995 Wisconsin above-ground test placed redwood heartwood in the most-resistant group, with an expected average service life of more than 20 years for test pieces similar in size to those tested. That supports saying redwood can take decades to decay above ground, but it is not a guarantee for every timber, climate, moisture condition, joint, or ground-contact application.
Is cedar good for a pavilion near the ocean?
Yes. Cedar heartwood is naturally durable, dimensionally stable, and well suited to exposed outdoor structures when the species, grade, detailing, and engineering match the site. Western Timber Frame fabricates Incense Cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, which the USDA Forest Products Laboratory rates as resistant or very resistant to heartwood decay. Salt air does not remove the need for drainage and periodic care.
What is the difference between Coast Redwood and cedar?
Coast Redwood is Sequoia sempervirens. “Cedar” can refer to several species; Western Timber Frame fabricates Incense Cedar, Calocedrus decurrens, while many general articles mean Western Red Cedar, Thuja plicata. Redwood is usually chosen for its reddish color and very low movement; cedar is often chosen for its warm tone, aroma, light weight, and natural durability.
Do redwood and cedar need pressure treatment?
Redwood and cedar heartwood receive much of their natural outdoor durability from extractives rather than injected preservative chemicals. USDA Forest Products Laboratory guidance says those heartwood extractives help provide resistance to decay, while sapwood has less of that natural protection. Untreated does not mean immune to moisture, fungi, insects, checking, or weathering, so construction details and periodic care still matter.
Is kiln dried cedar good for outdoor use?
Kiln dried cedar can be suitable for outdoor use when its moisture condition, grain, grade, member size, and intended exposure are appropriate. This coastal article applies that preparation question only to the redwood-or-cedar decision.
What is the best wood for a coastal pergola?
Redwood and cedar are both strong answers for a coastal pergola. Redwood is a natural fit when low movement and a rich red tone are priorities. Cedar is a natural fit when a warm, lightweight, aromatic timber is preferred. The final choice should follow the site, structure, heartwood, exposure, engineering requirements, finish plan, and local authority review.
Can I get a redwood pergola or cedar pavilion kit?
Yes. Western Timber Frame offers custom CNC-precut timber kits in both redwood and cedar, with interlocking Dovetail Difference joinery, no visible metal brackets, pre-staining, and project-specific engineering. Coastal customers most often order cedar or redwood. The available size, species, connections, drawings, and installation approach are determined during the design and engineering process for the individual project.
Technical sources
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Water Repellents and Water-Repellent Preservatives for Wood — heartwood, natural durability, moisture movement, shrinkage, and weathering.
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Comparative Durability of Untreated Wood in Use Above Ground — Highley’s 1995 Wisconsin test and above-ground service-life classifications.
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Incense Cedar technical sheet — Calocedrus decurrens and heartwood decay classification.
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory: Solid-Color Stains on Western Redcedar and Redwood Siding — natural heartwood chemicals that inhibit decay fungi and termites.
- Highley’s above-ground durability research — the source behind the qualified more-than-20-year test-piece statement.
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