Tough Choice: Northern White Cedar or Pine Log Siding

With the many options of log siding products available it can be difficult to narrow down which type of wood is the best one for your project. Northern White Cedar has long been considered one of the best materials for many building projects. In fact, it’s our personal preference. But Pine log siding is another popular choice. Let’s take a look at the benefits of both log siding products.

Benefits of Northern White Cedar Log Siding

Northern White Cedar log siding is one of the most beautiful log sidings products available. It is easy to work with, low maintenance and less expensive than other wood siding options.

One of nature’s strongest woods, Northern White Cedar is an optimal building material for outdoor projects, though it’s a natural fit indoors too. Northern White Cedar log siding is naturally impervious to damaging rot and insects such as termites and post beetles. Over time, this long-lasting material resists cupping, warping and splitting. Northern White Cedar is also able to stand up to harsh elements such as high winds, rain, snow, and hail. Another benefit is it’s natural insulation against extreme temperatures that keep a home’s interior cozy and comfortable year-round.

Northern White Cedar log siding is very environmentally friendly. In addition to its insulation properties helping to cut down energy costs, it also requires very little processing and treatment compared to other building products. Northern White Cedar is biodegradable, and Heartwood Mills sources it through environmentally friendly forestry.

Northern White Cedar log siding is very versatile. It holds paint and stain well, yet it is also very beautiful when left untreated. Over time, untreated Northern White Cedar siding will age to a beautiful, soft, silvery gray and adds natural warmth to any home.

Benefits of Pine Log Siding

Pine can also be an excellent choice for interior and exterior siding projects. Like Northern White Cedar, Pine log siding can transform practically any house into a log cabin home without the hefty price tag attached to building with full logs.

Another great benefit of Pine log siding is that it can be placed vertically or horizontally, which makes it easy to install in any home, no matter its architecture. Vertical/horizontal placement also makes it easy to achieve a look custom to a homeowner’s personal style.

Like Northern White Cedar, Pine log siding is available with tongue-and-groove end-matching. These smaller end-matched pieces create visual appeal and reduce material and time waste, which speeds up installation and cuts building costs. A quality end-matching process can also remove defects, such as knots. While Pine log siding does provide some insulation, it does not as high a “R” Factor / Thermal Mass Factor as Northern White Cedar.

Pine log siding holds a finish well and can easily be stained or painted but keep in mind that Pine log siding tends to be prone to knot bleeding which will require that the siding be sanded and refinished repeatedly over the years to remove the discharged sap.

For a side-by-side comparison of Northern White Cedar to various species of Pine, check out our wood comparison guide.

Heartwood Mills offers Northern White Cedar log siding and Pine log siding products to complement your next building project. Contact our log siding experts for advice on which log siding material will complement your design and work best for your next building project.