Quality And Consistency Set WRCLA Products Apart
Western Red Cedar is well known and well regarded as a superior building material with a long history of excellent performance in withstanding the rigors of time and weather. However, like any other building material, it gives its best performance when properly specified, installed and finished.

All WRCLA member mills, from the large sophisticated sawmill complexes to small family owned operations, are committed to the production of quality cedar lumber products. In fact, it is the quality and consistency of WRCLA cedar that set its products apart. Standard sizes and patterns were developed by the WRCLA to simplify the ordering and use of its members' cedar products, which are manufactured to strict product standards for the end use intended. The association has made WRCLA siding and decking products easy to identify by branding and labeling them with registered trademarks.

In addition to cedar siding and decking lumber, WRCLA mills manufacture many other products such as fencing, paneling, garden lumber, heavy timbers as well as custom and specialty items. They are available in a wide range of grades and sizes and are distributed throughout the United States and Canada through established wholesale companies and also exported world wide.

Offering Cedar Product Knowlege Is Part Of WRCLA Mandate
As the representive of 22 quality cedar producers in the United States and Canada, a major objective of the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association is to help consumers understand cedar's long term benefits, its special features and to provide information on how to use it properly.

The Association also wants to expand consumer awareness and recognition of the value and quality of WRCLA members' cedar products, which are all manufactured to high standards. Consumers who purchase WRCLA quality cedar receive the full support of the Association's technical service programs.

In addition to publishing technical literature, the Association also produces videos, do-it-yourself plans, outdoor project brochures, posters and other educational material. It takes part in trade and consumer home shows, construction industry exhibitions and other events where cedar is showcased. Specialized sales guides and promotional material are produced for both retail lumber yards and wholesale distributors of WRCLA lumber products.

Two major educational programs for retailers and wholesalers are offered by the WRCLA as part of its objective to support its products with training and education. The WRCLA Cedar School, a five day program held each spring and fall in Vancouver BC, has become internationally recognized and attracts cedar sales and marketing professionals from around the world. In addition, the WRCLA offers a Certified Cedar Training program. It is a free, in-store training program for retailers, wholesalers and their sales staff. More than 1000 cedar retailers and wholesalers in the United States and Canada have taken advantage of this unique program to become WRCLA Certified Cedar Dealers .

The WRCLA Offers Sales And Merchandising Support
Another important WRCLA objective is to work closely with cedar retailers, wholesaler and distributors to ensure they have the information and merchandising tools they need to help customers make an informed purchasing decision. A good understanding of WRCLA product standards and grade categories can help deliver a cedar product that meets both the needs and expectations of the consumer.

In addition to special package of its product and technical literature, the WRCLA also offers sales aids such as in-store merchandisers, banners, posters, siding kits. Advertising, trade shows and special promotions are other important parts of the Association's commitment to support its products, and their brand names, in the marketplace.

The WRCLA Is In Close Touch With Builders and Designers
Good communication with builder groups, the design community and others who work and install cedar products has a high priority with the WRCLA, which is a frequent participant in exhibitions, seminars and other construction industry events. The production and distribution of WRCLA Builders Guides to Western Red Cedar are also part of the Association's goal of providing these groups with the information they need to specify, install, finish and maintain Western Red Cedar lumber products. WRCLA technical literature and sales guides are well known and respected. From the selection of sidings to the type of nails and application of finish coatings, the information is accurate, up to date and easy to follow.

History
The Western Red Cedar Lumber Association is a Vancouver based non-profit association representing 27 quality producers of Western Red Cedar lumber products in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, North Dakota (USA) and British Columbia (Canada).

Founded in 1954 and known as "the voice of the cedar industry"-the WRCLA operates customer service programs throughout the United States and Canada to support its members' cedar products with information, education and quality standards.

In addition to its Vancouver headquarters, the WRCLA has field offices in Washington, New York, and Illinois, where cedar specialists offer a free, Super Cedar Advisory Service for specifiers, builders and other cedar consumers. When customers have a question about cedar, the answer is just a phone call away.

WRCLA activities are funded by its member mills, which have an annual production of nearly 1 billion board feet and account for more than 65% of all the cedar produced in the world.

Over the years the WRCLA has strived to makes its cedar as user friendly as possible by producing quality products to uniform standards and by providing the construction industry with the information it needs on WRCLA cedar products, their specification and proper use.

WRCLA activities also include programs on product quality and standards as well as research and new product development. The association sits on a number of code and standard committees and works closely with the Forest Products Research Laboratory in Madison Wisconsin and the Forintek Corporation, an industry research facility in Vancouver, BC.