Northern White Cedar (Outdoor Furniture) and Western Red Cedar (Arches & Arbors) are some one of the most sought-after woods for many outdoor uses.  It is a fine grained durable wood, naturally pitch-free and resistant to rot and insects.  These qualities combine to make cedar a top choice for carefree living.

Before you start in making a choice of finishes, decide what effect you wish to achieve.  One of the positive characteristics of cedar is its ability to accept a wide range of finishes.  Although it does not require finishing for protection, a properly applied finish will enhance the beauty and life of a cedar piece.  

Untreated Cedar:   Left untreated, Both Western Red and Northern White Cedar will weather to a beautiful soft silver-gray color similar to driftwood.  See the following picture for an example of weathered Northern White Cedar.

Although untreated cedar is natural and pleasing, it must be understood that wood is a porous material and, over the long term, will need care to minimize surface problems.  In many cases where untreated cedar sits in a damp or shaded area, the wood may become discolored with mildew.  A 20 percent solution of household bleach in water with one ounce of detergent per gallon will usually remove the stain.  Even after years of exposure, cedar can be refinished to a bright, clean appearance with this solution.  A high pressure water sprayer will also help to remove the weathered color effects. 

• Stain Finishing: There are a wide variety of penetrating stains, many of which retain much of the wood's natural color and texture while adding a protective element.  For outdoor use we recommend the outdoor stains/finishes that include water repellant additives, mildew inhibitors (mildicides), and UV inhibitors.  Penetrating stains go into the wood without forming a surface barrier so avoid the problems of blistering and peeling of painted surfaces.  They work well on wood with knots and deep surface texture. 
  
• Paints: Before deciding to paint cedar, it must be realized that the natural color and grain of the wood will be concealed.  If you choose to paint, apply the product according to the manufacturer's directions for the best protection and good service.  A good alternative to paint is a stain that has been pigmented with the color you want.  This will give the look of painted cedar log with the protection of an outdoor finish.

You have the option of ordering our Contoured Comfort pieces with an outdoor finish.  When you do so the product will go through a 4 coat finishing process.  This in-depth process will insure that all parts of the logs are coated with our outdoor stain/finish.  Our outdoor stains will repel water and will protect the wood against harmful UV rays.  If left outdoors year round the outdoor stains will need to be reapplied over time.  Depending on the weather/climate the stain could last one year or five years – it varies with all the different climates the product could be in.  You may use any type of outdoor sealant to refinish your furniture as desired.  The outdoor stain/finish that we use has been pigmented with color to provide a finish that brings out the natural highlights of the cedar wood.  Here is an example of our Contoured Comfort 4 ft Love Seat, Coffee Table, and Rocking Chair finished in our cedar tone finish:

Indoor Cedar

• Untreated:  Your indoor cedar furniture will not weather as fast as the outdoor cedar furniture.  It will take many years for the sunlight coming in through the windows to weather the wood.  However, left untreated you will need to clean your indoor furniture with a mild wood soap as the oils in your skin will start to seep into the wood and stain it. 
  
• Stain/Polyurethane:  If you decide to finish your indoor cedar furniture later on we suggest using a good quality polyurethane. Interior table tops and dresser tops should be finished on the top and bottom, with an equal number of coats applied to each side.
  
• Paint:  If you decide to paint your indoor cedar furniture it must be realized that the natural color and grain of the wood will be concealed.  If you choose to paint, apply the product according to the manufacturer's directions for the best protection and good service.

On top of the numerous pieces that we manufacture we have also added a few other furniture lines/styles from other manufacturers.  We have researched each company for months to ensure that their furniture is made using the same strict quality control measures that we use. Not all of these manufactures offer a finish on their products.

If you have found a certain furniture line/style that you love but it doesn’t have an option for a finish, and you want a finish already on it when you receive it, do not despair.  Just contact us and we can figure up a custom quote for you with all the pieces in the finish you want.  It is not a problem or a hassle for us at all.  We want you happy and satisfied as that is our goal here at JHE's Log Furniture Place. 

Log furniture is becoming more and more popular, not just in cabins and resorts but in homes and apartments as well.  The natural rustic look is very popular because the look is soothing and relaxing.  Finishing log furniture can change the appearance slightly but it is still going to look like the same beautiful rustic log piece that it did before.  Finishing your log furniture will benefit you in the long run. If we offer a finish that you like then we would recommend you order your furniture finished.  However, you may need a different color tone for where you want your furniture, so it is perfectly fine to order the furniture unfinished. We offer a clear finish and a light honey finish on most of our indoor items.  Some indoor items are available only in the clear finish, while some are available only unfinished.  We do recommend that if you order your furniture unfinished that you finish it or have someone finish your furniture when you receive it. 

We recommend finishing your furniture because wood is a porous material.  It will easily absorb the oils and dirt in our hands leaving stains on your furniture.  Hands get dirty very easily, no matter how many times a day they are washed.  Dresser handles, door handles, footboards, anything that comes in contact with your skin can stain requiring you to wash the unfinished log furniture regularly to keep the stains from becoming permanent.  Stains that do become permanent sometimes have to be sanded out to totally remove them.