A home greenhouse is a great alternative if you need a very controlled growing area or would like to cultivate tropical plants that can not withstand any chilly weather. This sort of structure could be built from a wide array of substances, but wood is among the very attractive and traditional choices. Cypress and cedar are both dependable species with their own benefits and pitfalls, as well as a long history of usage in outdoor constructions.
Appearance
The appearance of cedar wood varies according to species, with red cedars revealing a distinctive ruddy-brown colour, while white cedars are pale yellow to cream. Freshly-cut cypress wood includes a reddish-tan or honey tone. Both kinds of wood finally weather to a light silvery gray if left untreated. Both woods can also be stained or painted for use in greenhouses and other outdoor structures if the gray shade is undesirable.
Weight
Cedar species are normally lighter than cypress, averaging approximately 32 pounds per cubic foot for eastern red and Alaska cedars, and 22 pounds per cubic foot for white cedar. Western red cedar, among the most frequent choices for outdoor usage in the western part of the USA, weighs 23 pounds per cubic foot. Cypress, in contrast, weighs 32 to 33 pounds per cubic foot. Lighter substances make the greenhouse a lot easier to build and require less bracing and support.
Durability
Cedar and cypress wood share natural resistances to fungi, insect invasion and decay, which makes them a good choice for greenhouses and other outdoor buildings. Cypress tends to be somewhat resistant to splitting, warping and splintering, but could warp or twist if it hasn’t been correctly dried. Cedar’s light weight does make it less durable under a load than cypress, particularly in the event that you decide on streaky material with a large percentage of sapwood; greenhouses built from this type of lumber may require extra reinforcement.
Cost
The comparative price of cedar and cypress wood varies according to location. Western red cedar is easily available throughout the USA, particularly close to the native range in the Pacific Northwest. Cypress is very inexpensive for homeowners at the southeastern U.S., but is quite a bit more expensive for the rest of the nation. Normally, cypress tends to cost about 30 percent less than apparent cedar without knots or other unsightly features.