Material · Bear Chair Switzerland
Western Red Cedar: the ideal wood for durable garden furniture
Western Red Cedar is the wood behind every Bear Chair: light, dimensionally stable and naturally resistant, entirely without chemical treatment.
Western Red Cedar is a Canadian cedar species and the preferred wood for high-quality garden furniture. It combines low weight, dimensional stability and natural weather resistance.
What is Western Red Cedar?
Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) grows on the west coast of North America. The wood is light to reddish, finely structured and contains natural oils that protect it from rot and insects. Precisely these oils make chemical impregnation unnecessary.
The benefits of Western Red Cedar for garden furniture
The key properties at a glance:
- Naturally resistant to moisture, rot and insects
- Light yet dimensionally stable, hardly warps
- Needs no chemical treatment
- Ages with an elegant, silver-grey patina
Why cedar from Canada?
Bear Chair products are made in Ontario, Canada, from local Western Red Cedar. The wood comes from sustainable forestry and has been worked to the same proven kit principle since 1987.
Caring for Western Red Cedar
Western Red Cedar is easy to care for. Left untreated, the wood greys evenly to a silver-grey patina. If you want to keep the warm tone, oil the wood once or twice a season with a suitable wood oil.
Does Western Red Cedar need impregnating?
No. The wood's natural oils protect against moisture, rot and insects. Chemical impregnation is not necessary.
Does the wood turn grey over time?
Yes, untreated Western Red Cedar greys to a silver-grey patina. This is a natural process and does not affect stability.
Can I keep the original colour tone?
Yes. With a suitable wood oil once or twice a season, the warm tone is preserved.
Where does the wood come from?
From sustainable forestry in Canada; the Bear Chairs are made in Ontario.
Western Red Cedar compared with other woods
Compared with other garden furniture woods, Western Red Cedar performs particularly well on care effort and weight. Teak lasts the longest at 25-30 years, but is heavy and problematic in terms of sustainability; acacia and eucalyptus want regular oiling. Cedar achieves a lifespan of 15-25 years with very little care, stays light and comes from Ontario, the same region where The Bear Chair Company has been producing since 1987. You will find the full comparison in the guide Which wood for garden furniture.
How the wood behaves in everyday use
Solid wood works: temperature and humidity changes can create fine longitudinal cracks, especially at the ends of the slats. That is a characteristic of real wood and does not affect stability. A solid cedar chair weighs 12-18 kg and is therefore easy to move. If a piece stands in heavy shade or damp conditions, a light green film can form after months: clean with a soft brush and Bear Chair Cleaner, rinse with clear water and let it dry. Better to avoid pressure washers; they roughen the soft cedar surface.
Cedar in the Swiss winter
Western Red Cedar copes with frost, snow and wet winters; a Bear Chair can overwinter outdoors. If you want to protect the wood further, cover it with a protective cover, without sealing it airtight at the ground, or move the furniture under a roof. Seat cushions overwinter dry indoors. The five steps for the winter break are described in the guide Overwintering your Adirondack chair.
Frequently asked questions about Western Red Cedar
Does Western Red Cedar cope with the Swiss winter?
Yes. The wood is frost-resistant and copes with snow and wet winters. A protective cover or a covered spot is optional, not a must.
Are small cracks in cedar wood a defect?
No. Solid wood works and develops fine longitudinal cracks, especially at the ends of the slats. Stability is not affected.
How heavy is Western Red Cedar garden furniture?
The wood is light: a solid cedar chair weighs 12-18 kg and is easy to move.
What helps against green film on the wood?
Clean with a soft brush and Bear Chair Cleaner, rinse with clear water and let it dry. Avoid pressure washers; they roughen the surface.
Ready for your Bear Chair?
Delivery
2-3 working days after receipt of payment within Switzerland. Custom pine painting 2-4 weeks.
Warranty
10-year warranty on chairs fully assembled by us.
Showroom Frauenfeld
Try out every model, by prior arrangement.