Japanese Cedar

Although this article could be called Japanese Cedar Vs Western Red Cedar, that is not the intent of this article. Japanese cedar is an option available for fencing in the DFW area. It might be a better option than some woods but here we will compare it to Western Red Cedar because some people sell Japanese cedar as simply, “cedar.” Not all cedars are alike and you want to make sure what type of cedar you are buying, if it has not already been explained to you. If you are buying Japanese cedar you should not be paying as much as you would for Western Red Cedar.

Japanese cedar or Cryptomeria japonica is a tree that is native to Japan. It is a type of wood that has been used in Japan for centuries as a material used for building and construction, including fences. Like Western Red Cedar, Japanese cedar contains natural tannins that protect and preserve the wood from rot and insects. Japanese cedar is a soft wood while WRC is considered a medium strength wood. Japanese cedar and WRC are both attractive and long lasting woods that have a range of properties that make them ideal for various uses in outdoor construction and indoor applications. While they have some similarities, they also have some differences that can determine how they are used and a preference for one over the other.

The most prominent fencing cedar in the United States and Keller TX is Western Red Cedar. Japanese cedar became popular in 2020 when WRC became difficult to acquire. WRC is still the dominant cedar in the U.S. for fencing. Although the price is slightly less for Japanese cedar, there are some differences in the properties of the two woods. Japanese cedar is less dense than WRC, making WRC the stronger and more durable species. Although they are similar in strength, Japanese cedar has a low bending strength compared to WRC’s moderate bending strength. Japanese cedar has a moderate crushing strength while WRC has high crushing strength.
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As you can see there are some differences between the two species of wood. Japanese cedar is somewhat pink in color. It is noticeably different that Western Red Cedar. They both can be stained and if there is no Western Red Cedar, you might want to consider Japanese cedar. Another popular fence material is treated pine. This is a conversation for another article. Japanese cedar like WRC, is a stable product in that it may make for a better picket than say pine fence pickets as it will not shrink, warp, twist, and crack nearly as much as a treated pine picket. There is a place for Japanese cedar in the market but we believe there are higher quality options.