Home / Wood Compare / Western Red Cedar vs Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoD
Professional Comparison · Verified Engineering Data · Updated 19 July 2026
Western Red Cedar VS Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoD
Which wood is better for your project? Scores are computed from the verified figures on each species page — how we score.
🥇
Western Red Cedar
22/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood🌧Outdoor
- Stronger in bending (MOR 51.7 vs 45.0 MPa)
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Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoD
18/100 Library Score
🌲Softwood🌧Outdoor
- Close second across most categories
- Solid choice where its profile fits the project
Visual comparison
Western Red CedarThermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoD
Winner by category
There isn't one universally best wood — there's a best wood for each purpose.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Durability | Tie |
| Stability | Tie |
| Hardness | Tie |
| Strength (MOR) | Tie |
| Stiffness (MOE) | Western Red Cedar |
| Flame spread | Tie |
| Machining ease | Tie |
| Lightness | Tie |
Engineering data
| Property | Western Red Cedar | Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoD |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 350WD lbf | 350ITWA lbf |
| Density | 0.32FPL g/cm³ | 0.38ITWA g/cm³ |
| MOE | 7.7FPL GPa | 7.5ITWA GPa |
| MOR | 51.7FPL MPa | 45.0ITWA MPa |
| Durability | Class 2 Durable | Class 2 Durable (treated) |
| Stability | Moderate | Moderate |
| Fire (E84) | Class C indicative | Class C indicative |
| Radial Shrink | 2.4WD % | 1ITWA % |
| Tangential Shrink | 5WD % | 2ITWA % |
| T/R Ratio | 2.08 | 2.0 |
Figures carry the same source status as the species pages they come from — verified where cited, indicative where marked.
Best for
| Application | Recommended | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor decking / pergola | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★★★☆☆ |
| Exterior cladding | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★★★★☆ |
| Flooring / wear surfaces | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Furniture / interior joinery | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ★★★★☆ |
| Structural / load-bearing | 🥇 Western Red Cedar | ☆☆☆☆☆ |
Advantages & limitations
Western Red Cedar
Advantages
- Rated for exterior exposure (EN 350 Class 2)
- Easy to machine, glue and fasten
- Lightweight — easy handling and installation
Limitations
- Noticeable seasonal movement — allow for it in design
- Soft surface — dents under point loads
Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoD
Advantages
- Rated for exterior exposure (EN 350 Class 2)
- Easy to machine, glue and fasten
- Lightweight — easy handling and installation
Limitations
- Noticeable seasonal movement — allow for it in design
- Soft surface — dents under point loads
Recommendation
Choose Western Red Cedar if…
- You want the stronger all-round engineering profile
Choose Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoD if…
- Its profile matches the application better than a single overall score
Frequently asked questions
Which is more durable, Western Red Cedar or Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoD?
Neither — both carry the same EN 350 rating (Class 2, Durable). For outdoor decisions between them, weigh dimensional stability and hardness instead.
Which wood is better for outdoor use?
They are closely matched outdoors — durability and stability come out almost level. Let the application decide: harder surface for decking traffic, lighter weight for cladding.
Is Western Red Cedar harder than Thermowood Western Red Cedar ThermoD?
They measure the same on the Janka scale (350 lbf each) — effectively equal in surface hardness.
How we score. Each wood gets a weighted composite of the verified figures shown above: durability 22%, stability 18%, hardness 12%, bending strength 12%, machining ease 12%, stiffness 8%, flame spread 8%, lightness 8%. The Library Score is that composite's percentile rank within our 60-species library — 50 means the library median, 90 means it outperforms nine of every ten species we cover. No price data is scored — cost guidance is qualitative. The score summarises the data; it does not replace judgement about your specific application.