Western Red Cedar — Shiplap
Shiplap is about as close to an industry standard as sauna cladding gets — and it's popular for good reason. With a round-edge profile, it gives a clean, classic look while allowing timber to expand and contract naturally with heat and humidity. It can be installed either vertically or horizontally, and suits both internal sauna walls and external cladding.
Common uses:
- Sauna Wall and Ceiling Lining: The go-to profile for internal sauna walls and ceilings, giving a smooth, rounded finish between boards.
- External Cladding: Equally suited to external sauna builds, standing up to everyday weather exposure.
- Vertical or Horizontal Runs: Flexible enough to suit either orientation depending on the look you're after.
Available in a range of sizes to suit different builds.
Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar is one of the most sought-after sauna timbers in the world, and it earns that reputation. Sourced from Canada and kiln dried for stability, it's prized for its natural aroma one that lingers through years of use along with genuine durability and striking grain character that gives every board its own personality.
Why it's a preferred option:
- The Classic Sauna Aroma: That distinctive cedar scent is part of the sauna experience itself, and it doesn't fade quickly.
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Genuinely Durable: Naturally resistant to decay and built to handle the heat and humidity cycles of daily sauna use.
- Kiln Dried for Stability: Kiln drying reduces moisture content upfront, giving the timber a more stable starting point before it goes into your build.
- Beautiful, Varied Grain: Rich grain patterning running from whites through to pinks and browns no two boards look quite the same.
- The Industry Standard: It's the most widely used sauna timber for good reason proven performance, proven look
- Sustainably Sourced: Sourced from British Columbia Canada.
Worth knowing: Western Red Cedar has naturally high colour and grain variation tones can shift noticeably from white through pink to brown even within the same board or pack, which is part of its natural character rather than a defect. It can also experience slight movement once installed in a sauna environment, which is normal for the species and doesn't affect its performance or longevity.
