Untreaded raw cedar in the bathroom?

The smell will eventually fade.
It’s most likely Western Red Cedar if it has a smell. If it Wrc it won’t mold or rot instead it will oxidize and turn brown.
I have no opinion on finishes for wood in the bathroom.
Good for you harvesting your own timber. I tip my hat and raise my cup. :)
Good Luck

-- Aj

Wood and a bathroom come down to how wet will the wood be, AND the species of wood. Many don’t tolerate wet/water/moisture at all. I agree with Aj it’s likely WRC, and it has quite a bit of moisture resistance. But a good running fan will take away the steam pretty quickly, I believe you would only see a problem left untreated if it stayed wet a lot. Color will probably go to gray and the smell will dissipate, but you can sometimes get it back with sanding it, and reopening it’s pores. This works much better for Eastern Red Cedar ERC.

I too applaud your use of your own wood, it’s great you have the option, and the equipment.

Western Red Cedar

Western Red characteristics

Eastern Red, or Aromatic Cedar

Eastern Cedar with characteristics.

Welcome to Lumber Jocks.

-- Think safe, be safe

i put t&g cedar on the ceiling in both our bathrooms and just sealed them with a water sealer like thompsons which didn’t change the color much and had no sheen.it will kill the smell but that will fade anyway.it’s been over 18 years and there is no graying at all.

-- working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

The smell will eventually fade.
It’s most likely Western Red Cedar if it has a smell. If it Wrc it won’t mold or rot instead it will oxidize and turn brown.
I have no opinion on finishes for wood in the bathroom.
Good for you harvesting your own timber. I tip my hat and raise my cup. :)
Good Luck

- Aj2

I’d guess it would be Juniper (way more smell than WRC) or Emerald cedar as WRC doesn’t grow in Ontario.

-- Darrel

Did you tongue and groove it? Or just butt together? From the sound of reading it most likely issue will be shrinking as it dries and leaving gaps.

I d guess it would be Juniper (way more smell than WRC) or Emerald cedar as WRC doesn t grow in Ontario.

- Foghorn

Most of the places a WRC will grow are listed by the Dept of Ag, under The US forest service, and like any gubmit agency they speak in generalities. Believe me, WRC grows in many areas not out west. It’s the same as a guy in Idaho who has Walnut trees (Juglans nigra) out the wazoo. Trees really don’t like always, and never, they grow where they find temperature range, and soil conditions that meet their needs, and even then they are often a lot more flexible than some people believe them to be. Now their inherent home range may be one place, but trees grow where they like it.

-- Think safe, be safe

I d guess it would be Juniper (way more smell than WRC) or Emerald cedar as WRC doesn t grow in Ontario.

- Foghorn

Most of the places a WRC will grow are listed by the Dept of Ag, under The US forest service, and like any gubmit agency they speak in generalities. Believe me, WRC grows in many areas not out west. It s the same as a guy in Idaho who has Walnut trees (Juglans nigra) out the wazoo. Trees really don t like always, and never, they grow where they find temperature range, and soil conditions that meet their needs, and even then they are often a lot more flexible than some people believe them to be. Now their inherent home range may be one place, but trees grow where they like it.

- therealSteveN

Smartest guy in the room, as usual…
True Western Red Cedar(Thuja plicata)....growing in Northern Ontario? You’re really going to argue about that?
At best, you might find some type of hybrid grafted shrub in someones back yard, and even thats pushing it.

-- “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” – Plato

I’ve lined a couple closets and a hallway with cedar. The smell will go away quickly.

So I would be doing it for looks, not the aroma.

The wood is pretty, I would seal it but you could probably leave it bare with no issues.

-- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!!

I would point out that steam Saunas are usually made with cedar but it is Western Red Cedar or it’s look alike Incense Cedar which is quite similar but softer in texture, sometimes called pencil wood…used for pencils. They also do not have much odor and it dissipates quickly.

I agree neither of these would grow in Northern Ontario. In all likelihood you have Eastern Red Cedar which is “native” to your area and has a prominent odor. The other in your area would be Eastern white cedar.

I think it would be OK to use it in the bathroom unfinished but I would want it planed and sanded to a smooth surface. Actually any top coat could become a maintenance problem in a moist environment like a bathroom.

If you like the cedar odor you can purchase Cedar oil and drip some on a wood block in n open container as needed….don’t put on the wall.

-- Les B, Oregon

I would point out that steam Saunas are usually made with cedar but it is Western Red Cedar or it s look alike Incense Cedar which is quite similar but softer in texture, sometimes called pencil wood…used for pencils. They also do not have much odor and it dissipates quickly.

I agree neither of these would grow in Northern Ontario. In all likelihood you have Eastern Red Cedar which is “native” to your area and has a prominent odor. The other in your area would be Eastern white cedar.

I think it would be OK to use it in the bathroom unfinished but I would want it planed and sanded to a smooth surface. Actually any top coat could become a maintenance problem in a moist environment like a bathroom.

If you like the cedar odor you can purchase Cedar oil and drip some on a wood block in n open container as needed….don t put on the wall.

- LesB

Eastern Red Cedar is Juniper which is also pencil wood. :)

-- Darrel

id dont think the op really cares what kind of cedar it is,she just wants to know if she should seal it or not.so why all the debate what kind of wood it is? we dont need the “smartest” guy in the room to figure it out since no one knows,do we?

-- working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

id dont think the op really cares what kind of cedar it is,she just wants to know if she should seal it or not.so why all the debate what kind of wood it is? we dont need the “smartest” guy in the room to figure it out since no one knows,do we?

- pottz

Apologies. You are correct! :) I’ll flip you for who buys the beer.

-- Darrel

None of the Cedars mentioned above are really cedars. Most are in the cypress family.
I know we had to his discussion before and I don’t remember if I lost or won the argument.
Probably lost but that’s not the point.
Aromatic cedar is what I know to be Eastern red cedar the finest stock from Tennessee. Eastern red cedar is not prized for it grain. Unless you like big knots.
WRC tress grow tall and straight like our women out here on the west coast.:)
Cedar of Lebanon is one of my favorites.

-- Aj

None of the Cedars mentioned above are really cedars. Most are in the cypress family.
I know we had to his discussion before and I don’t remember if I lost or won the argument.
Probably lost but that’s not the point.
Aromatic cedar is what I know to be Eastern red cedar the finest stock from Tennessee.
Cedar of Lebanon is one of my favorites.

- Aj2

Spanish cedar is another not true cedar that I love for some things although the taste stays for quite a while regardless of DC quality. Closer to mahogany than cedar. Doh! Being a little too cerebral again. :)

-- Darrel

id dont think the op really cares what kind of cedar it is,she just wants to know if she should seal it or not.so why all the debate what kind of wood it is? we dont need the “smartest” guy in the room to figure it out since no one knows,do we?

- pottz

Apologies. You are correct! :) I ll flip you for who buys the beer.

- Foghorn

you sure about that because i flip for premium bourbans,well aged!!!

-- working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.