Western Red Cedar is one of the best woods available to make anything for outdoors as it is naturally decay & insect-resistant. This wood is used to build houses, decks, roofs, etc. It is native to the Pacific Northwest, so it is a product of a wet climate and will withstand a lot of moisture. However, it is also very good in a dry climate, but will require some sort of UV protection and is best to keep a weather stain applied in this type of climate. In my travels, I have heard time and time again from people who have had a particular cedar piece of furniture that their parents or grandparents made and it is still being used. I believe, with a little care, your furniture could last 40 or 50 years! We use only kiln dried cedar, which is the very best because it will not shrink or warp!