Bench frames are the thing most people spec last and think about least, which is how you end up with a cedar bench surface on a mismatched pine or construction-lumber frame. This post is the other half of the cedar bench.
Western Red Cedar 4×4 S4S is 3.5″ x 3.5″, surfaced four sides (no eased edges, this is structural stock). Milled in Canada. Available in 3, 4, 5, and 6 ft lengths. It’s used for bench legs, cross-supports, and low-tier bench frames. Cedar’s natural oils make it rot-resistant and insect-resistant without any treatment, which is the practical argument for cedar framing in a wet sauna.
Why Cedar (and the honest part)
Matching your frame to your bench boards isn’t required, but it’s cleaner visually and it means your frame isn’t fighting the expansion of the bench stock above it. Cedar frames pair naturally with cedar bench boards. The species moves at the same rate through the heat-and-cool cycle, so the joints stay more consistent over time.
The honest downside: untreated cedar at 4×4 still moves more through the heat cycle than you’d see with steel or a thermally stabilized wood. Tighten your bench lag bolts or screws after the first few seasons of use. Checking (surface-level hairline cracking) on a 4×4 post is normal and cosmetic, not structural. If you’re building a very wet steam-room environment rather than a traditional dry sauna, ask us about alternatives before speccing cedar framing.
Specifications
- Species: Western Red Cedar
- Grade: S4S (surfaced four sides, structural)
- Profile: S4S post/beam
- Dimensions: 3.5″ x 3.5″
- Available lengths: 3, 4, 5, 6 ft
- MAP: $29.38 per linear foot
- Made in: Canada
Where it goes
Bench legs, bench cross-supports, and low-tier structural framing. Pair with the 1×4 VG or 1×6 VG cedar bench boards for a consistent all-cedar build. Coordinate your lengths with your bench height: a standard two-tier sauna bench runs the lower tier at roughly 18″ and the upper at 36-42″, so 3 ft and 4 ft posts cover most configurations.
Shipping and samples
Sold by the linear foot. Flat $795 shipping to the continental US, or free with a heater order. Text your name and address to (844) 565-1113 for a free sample.
Call Ben² at (844) 565-1113 if you’d like to talk through the board count before you order.
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