Why We Use Cedar-Tone Treated Wood Instead of Cedar
When customers see our mailbox posts, one of the most common questions we get is:
“Why don’t you just use cedar?”
It’s a fair question. Cedar has a great reputation. It’s known for being naturally resistant to rot and insects, and it looks beautiful right out of the gate.
But after years of building and installing mailboxes in Minnesota’s climate, we’ve made a deliberate decision:
We use cedar-tone pressure-treated wood instead of cedar, and we believe it’s the better long-term solution.
Here’s why.
Built for Ground Contact and Harsh Conditions
Mailbox posts don’t live in ideal conditions.
They sit directly in the ground.
They deal with moisture, freeze-thaw cycles, road salt, and snow buildup.
Pressure-treated wood is specifically engineered for this environment.
Cedar, while naturally rot-resistant, is not designed for long-term ground contact in extreme climates. Over time, it can still soften, crack, and degrade faster than treated lumber in these conditions.
Cedar-tone treated wood is built to handle exactly what a mailbox post goes through in Minnesota.
Strength and Structural Integrity
We build with 6x6 posts because stability matters.
Pressure-treated lumber provides consistent strength and structural reliability. It holds up well under weight, wind, and seasonal movement.
Cedar, on the other hand, is a softer wood. It’s more prone to:
- Warping
- Splitting
- Denting
For a structural application like a mailbox post, especially in multi-unit or commercial settings, we prioritize strength over appearance alone.
Longevity That Matches the Investment
When someone invests in a new mailbox installation, the goal is simple:
Do it once. Don’t worry about it again.
Cedar-tone treated wood is designed to last 15 to 20 years or more when installed properly.
That longevity matters, especially for HOAs and homeowners who don’t want to revisit the same project in a few years.
The Look of Cedar, Without the Tradeoffs
One reason people love cedar is its color.
Cedar-tone treated wood gives you a similar warm, natural appearance while still delivering the durability of pressure-treated lumber.
It can also be stained or sealed if you want to further customize the look.
So you’re not sacrificing aesthetics: you’re gaining durability.
A Flexible Approach
That said, if you have your heart set on cedar, we’re more than happy to build with it.
Cedar is still a quality material and a great choice in many applications. Our goal isn’t to force one option on you, but to give you the best information so you can make the right decision for your property.
We’re happy to work with your preferences and tailor the build to what matters most to you.
A Professional, Proven Choice
This isn’t a shortcut or a cost-cutting decision.
It’s a choice based on experience.
We’ve seen what holds up.
We’ve seen what fails early.
We’ve seen what customers are happiest with years down the road.
And time after time, cedar-tone treated wood proves to be the more reliable option for this specific application.
Our Philosophy
At Father and Son Building LLC, we don’t just build for today.
We build for years down the road, when the post is still solid, still straight, and still doing its job.
That’s why we choose materials that are made for the environment they’re going into, not just materials that look good on day one.
If you have questions about materials, installation, or what’s best for your property, feel free to reach out.
We’re always happy to walk you through it.