: Ok so I'm brand new at this...How important is it to get flat sawn cedar vs
: vertical grain before cutting out the strips?

From experience it's a whole lot less work (and usually cheaper) to buy flat sawn (or nearly flat sawn, doesn't matter if it's perfectly flat) than if the grain if "vertical" or quarter sawn. You just spend a heck of alot more time with the table saw if it's not flat sawn, and pay extra for the privilege).

Bill H.