Cedar closets offer several advantages, including a pleasant scent that keeps insects at bay and moisture resistance to reduce mold. However, cedar is an expensive hardwood, so it is not an option for everyone. You do have a few alternatives to cedar in your closet. Does this Spark an idea?
Pine
Pine is another alternative to cedar planking. Pine is softer and not as resistant to water or bugs. However, it is less expensive than cedar, especially if you choose basic grade pine boards. Pine costs between $1 and $3 a foot as of July 2011. It has a pleasant odor and the natural look of real wood. Pine also mounts to the wall framing with regular nails and a hammer, screws or a pneumatic hammer. Choose pine panel boards, pine plywood or pine veneer woods for your closet walls.
Laminate Panels
Another synthetic material for consideration is laminate wall panels. These wall panels come in large sections, and each is mounted on the wall. Today, laminate has a very high definition printing pattern that simulates wood grains or other textures. Mounting laminates is fairly simple. Screw the panels to the wall framing, or adhere it to the drywall with adhesive. This option replaces all types of woods, is easy to clean and is available at most home improvement stores.
Cedar Flake Board
Cedar flake board is another option. Made from chips of cedar wood pressed together with glue to form large sheets, this is an inexpensive alternative to cedar panel boards. The flake board is mounted to the framing with screws or nails. It may be mounted to drywall as well with the same tools. The drawback is the look of the flake board. It does not have a grain but a textured pattern made up of several wood flakes. It does have the scent and moisture-resistant properties of real cedar at one-half to one-quarter of the cost.
Panel Boards
Another option is panel boards, which come in many styles, including interlocking tongue and groove panels with tongues and grooves cut along the edges, overlapping panels and planks. The planks and tongue and groove panels are best for a closet. Panel board comes in several forms, including solid wood like white wood, birch, oak or maple, veneer panels with a thin layer of wood on a fabricated solid core and even bamboo. Bamboo is environmentally friendly and features a real wood grain exterior.
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