(adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Advertising Disclosure: This content may include referral links. If you live in the Northwest where cedar is readily available, cypress may be more expensive. Aesthetically, many designers, builders and furniture makers prefer cedar because of its uniform consistency and pleasing appearance. When shopping for cypress wood, you may see the term, “sinker.”  According to the Woodworking Network, this simply means a bacterial infection occurred in the living tree, which, eventually increasing the water content, preventing the logs from floating, hence the name “sinker.”  Sinker logs are commonly found in older trees and were often the largest log from the tree. Some hardware stores may provide this service for free while others may charge a small fee. Its wood is also known for its aesthetic appeal as well as its durability. Sharp knives, blades, and/or cutters are highly recommended to prevent grain tear out. When it comes to choosing the best wood, it can be a tough choice, as there are pros and very little cons to each.

How much does cypress lumber cost? The costs will depend on the size, type and where it’s purchased from. The cypress is considered any of the various evergreen trees or shrubs of the genus Cupressus, which is native to North America. Select StateAlaskaAlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest VirginiaWyoming. Cedar dents and scratches easy due to its softness, while cypress is harder and won't dent or scratch as easily.

Cypress is a native of the southern United States, primarily growing along the Gulf of Mexico and in swampy areas along the Atlantic Coast. It’s a great insect repellant and requires very little maintenance. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. If you live in the Northwest where cedar is readily available, cypress may be more expensive. On average, the cost of rough sawn cypress lumber can be around $2 to $6 per board foot at your local lumberyard/retailer. Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. This type of tree is often found in the swampy areas of the Eastern coast. Cedar and cypress contain oils that give the wood weather-resistant qualities, but cedar contains a fungicide that protects it further from rotting. It's also used for cedar wood oil for fragrances and for wildlife habitat. Compared to most types of wood, it is very easy to paint and stain. Cedar has a pleasant, aromatic scent while being worked, while freshly cut cypress has a somewhat sour odor. Time to Start Thinking About Your Deck. Cypress Wood glues nicely.

Although cypress is softwood, it is usually grouped, milled and marketed along with hardwoods because it grows alongside hardwoods.

Cypress is usually less expensive, but it depends on where you live. The grain of cypress is coarse, yellowish brown, with bold patterns. Cypress boards, lacking the protection against fungus, may have scattered pockets of fungus, showing up as dark pockets. Cedar is a softwood. Western Red cedar has been rated as durable in regard to decay resistance but has a mixed resistance to insect attack. Cypress is more common in the East. Common names can include yellow cypress, tidewater cypress, white cypress, gulf cypress, black cypress and more.

This decreased shrinkage allows the board to be more energy efficient since it provides more insulation. It has needles instead of leaves -- typical of softwoods -- but drops its needles during the fall like a hardwood, giving it the "bald" cypress likeness.

Younger cypress is rated as moderately durable. Cypress lumber, at a local lumber yard/retailer, usually ranges up to 48 inches in width and lengths of 7 to 16 feet, with the average lengths being 12, 14 and 16. Both woods work well in home and building projects, and share weather-resistant qualities.

Cypress lumber, the wood that comes from the cypress tree, is known for its scalelike leaves and woody cones. Cypress is a very versatile, coming in a variety of shades, colors, and purities, meaning it can match almost any style or color scheme.

Air dried or kiln dried cypress wood can cost 20 to 60 percent more than the estimates mentioned prior. Old growth, or more specifically, over-mature bald cypress is often attacked by a damaging fungus “Stereum taxoli, that causes brown, ovoid shaped rot pockets throughout the heartwood. With differences between them minimal, the choice between cedar and cypress can come down to three things: where you live, how much you're willing to spend and the exact need of your project. This type of lumber is ideal for outdoor use, such as siding, outdoor furniture or decking. Drying: Cypress Wood Lumber take slightly longer to dry compared to other softwoods. Local lumber yards can deliver your purchase for a small fee, usually no more than $50 to $100; however, the fee may be waived if you meet a minimum spending requirement. Cypress wood is popularly used for trim, cabinets, countertops, flooring, paneling and even siding. Shaddy began publishing in various magazines in 1992, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon,” in 2008. It's advisable to select the straightest boards -- such as deck boards -- when building with cypress lumber. Please read our disclosure policy for more info. Cypress wood and cedar wood are excellent choices for any building or woodworking project. Because this lumber comes in pre-cut sizes, just like any other lumber pieces found, you may need to have the lumber cut to your specifications.

By purchasing in bulk, the costs per board foot can go down. Construction workers and builders typically prefer cypress for structural beams, decking, fencing or anywhere high levels of moisture might compromise lumber. Cypress is usually less expensive, but it depends on where you live. Due to the slower growth, the rings of the wood tend to be closer together. Weight: Cypress weighs approximately 2.6lbs per board foot.

Cypress has a natural preservative oil known as “cypressene,” which offers a moderate resistance to insects and decay. Western red cedar is the most common type of cedar. The majority of Western red cedar is harvested in coastal forests along the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Cedar boards are more consistently straight, with fewer variations, and hand selecting is not typically necessary.

Cypress Wood and Lumber, located in Lousiana, charges $2.35 per board for cypress No.2 or $4.60 per square foot for six-inch wide cypress beveled siding, according to their official website. Refer to our table below to see the average prices commonly charged: Woodworkerssource.com, for example, charges around $6 to $9 per foot, according to their official pricing sheet. Cedar is more common in the West. Some types of cypress will have more knots than others.

Pecky cypress wood, which is caused by the fungus that occurs with older cypress trees, can cost close to $4 per linear foot. Another type, Eastern red cedar, is not as widely distributed but is commonly sold as aromatic paneling for closets as well as some specialty applications. If you live in the eastern United States where cypress is readily available, it's typically less expensive than cedar. For once, a bit of typically gross fungus is not a bad thing. On average, the cost of rough sawn cypress lumber can be around $2 to $6 per board foot at your local lumberyard/retailer. Pecky cypress wood, which is caused by the fungus that occurs with older cypress trees, can cost close to $4 per linear foot. Nailing or screws acre acceptable to fasten. Old-growth cypress is rated as being very durable -- more durable than cedar -- but it's hard to find and expensive. If you are using cypress lumber for a project that requires support and stability, then you should choose the purest cypress available. But did you also know that aside from its appearance, cypress is also valued for its wood? Workability: Cypress Wood is easy to work. Bonus: these wet growing conditions are one reason cypress can handle moisture. Construction workers and builders typically prefer cypress for structural beams, decking, fencing or anywhere high levels of moisture might compromise lumber. Known as a water-loving tree, the average tree can reach up to 150 feet tall.