outdoor house of cedar

[Diana Stone]

A very nice gentleman made me an outdoor house for my torts but I am a bit concerned because he used cedar on three of the 4 walls. He said it was because it will hold up better to the elements. I have heard cedar is bad news for torts. Do you think it will be ok due to it being outside, he thought so. I hope so because its really nice. What do you all think?

[Itort]

Sorry to say but because it is a house, I'm afraid that the aromatic fumes would be concentrated inside and effect the torts health. Perhaps you can find another use for it in your garden.

[Diana Stone]

Itort Wrote:Sorry to say but because it is a house, I'm afraid that the aromatic fumes would be concentrated inside and effect the torts health. Perhaps you can find another use for it in your garden.

so sad. Maybe I will try to take it apart and do away with the cedar strips he used for walls and use plywood? Can there be any cedar or should I do away with every piece? Can I paint it if I use plywood, only on the outside of course.

[Itort]

When you any wood outside, you would want to seal it on all sides and let it cure. That way it would hold up to the weather. A barn paint would work well and be nontoxic.

[Diana Stone]

Itort Wrote:When you any wood outside, you would want to seal it on all sides and let it cure. That way it would hold up to the weather. A barn paint would work well and be nontoxic.

What if I use barn paint on the cedar? Would that make it safer?

[Itort]

Perhaps, the use of cedar is because of it's weatherproof property so I've painted it. Another thought is using multiple coats of polyurathene.

[Diana Stone]

Itort Wrote:Perhaps, the use of cedar is because of it's weatherproof property so I've painted it. Another thought is using multiple coats of polyurathene.

So are you telling me I can barn paint or polyurathene it and make the house safe enough to use?

[Feylin]

I would think that if you used multiple coats of polyurathene it would seal the aromatic oils in the wood and keep them from hurting your torts.

[jason longboard]

oooooorrrrrrrrr,lol.you could send it to me for a cigar humidor,lol.