Hi,
I'd like to build a wooden staircase outside my kitchen window
(eventually will be a door).
What's the best wood for outdoors? I seem to remember reading that some
woods will last well even without sealants and such they'll turn gray,
but will be fine.
any advice?
I'm not super interested in recycled-plastic materials, but considering
it.
Standard construction would use Redwood. Pretty much impervious to
water problems. At the other end of the spectrum is Teak which is used
for boat decks, etc. Will last much longer than redwood and cost a lot
more but a real Cadillac solution. White Oak is also considered a good
outdoor wood (not Red Oak). Cedar is good in weather too. Finally, lots
of folks are touting Ipe. It is a Teak look alike that is becoming very
popular for decking. Others may be able to comment on it's cost,
availability and viability.
I like red wood, or pressure treated
Ben Gold wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'd like to build a wooden staircase outside my kitchen window
> (eventually will be a door).
>
> What's the best wood for outdoors? I seem to remember reading that some
> woods will last well even without sealants and such they'll turn gray,
> but will be fine.
>
> any advice?
>
> I'm not super interested in recycled-plastic materials, but considering
> it.
Robert Bonomi wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Ben Gold <[email protected]> wrote:
> >Hi,
> >
> >I'd like to build a wooden staircase outside my kitchen window
> >(eventually will be a door).
> >
> >What's the best wood for outdoors? I seem to remember reading that
some
> >woods will last well even without sealants and such =AD they'll turn
gray,
> >but will be fine.
> >
> >any advice?
> >
> >I'm not super interested in recycled-plastic materials, but
considering
> >it.
>
> The 'classic' durable, "no-finish" woods are:
> redwood
> cypress
> cedar
Yes but those are all a little soft for stairs.
> teak (if you're _really_ rich! :)
>
Good enough for carrier decks, I think it'd hold up.
> There's also "pressure treated" (e.g. 'Wolmanized") pine (and
similar).
>
> All of the above are comparatively soft, and the top-front edge of a
stair
> tread _will_ wear, under even only fairly light traffic.
>
> Next there is ipe. Harder to find, but durable enough it can be a bit
of a
> pain to work with.
I'd opt for black locust if I could find it. Other hardwood commonly
used for fencposts should be good too. Those include Osage Orange
(aka hedge, aka bois d'arc, aka bodark) and sassafrass. If the
climate is rather dry, Doug Fir or White Oak would be fine.
--=20
FF
In article <[email protected]>,
Ben Gold <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I'd like to build a wooden staircase outside my kitchen window
>(eventually will be a door).
>
>What's the best wood for outdoors? I seem to remember reading that some
>woods will last well even without sealants and such they'll turn gray,
>but will be fine.
>
>any advice?
>
>I'm not super interested in recycled-plastic materials, but considering
>it.
The 'classic' durable, "no-finish" woods are:
redwood
cypress
cedar
teak (if you're _really_ rich! :)
There's also "pressure treated" (e.g. 'Wolmanized") pine (and similar).
All of the above are comparatively soft, and the top-front edge of a stair
tread _will_ wear, under even only fairly light traffic.
Next there is ipe. Harder to find, but durable enough it can be a bit of a
pain to work with.
"SonomaProducts.com" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Standard construction would use Redwood. Pretty much impervious to
> water problems. At the other end of the spectrum is Teak which is used
> for boat decks, etc. Will last much longer than redwood and cost a lot
> more but a real Cadillac solution. White Oak is also considered a good
> outdoor wood (not Red Oak). Cedar is good in weather too. Finally, lots
> of folks are touting Ipe. It is a Teak look alike that is becoming very
> popular for decking. Others may be able to comment on it's cost,
> availability and viability.
Ipe is a good alternative. Cost varies but its generally inexpensive. No
finish is absolutely required.
Dave
Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
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In Houston Ipe goes for about the price that Oak goes for.
"the_tool_man" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have not found Ipe to be inexpensive at all, unless you're comparing
> it to teak or titanium.
>
> Regards,
> John.
>
Ipe. Very hard, 3 times harder than Oak, 50 year life expectancy out doors
with out needing a finish and is fire rated. Very often used for decking.
It should be readily available and relatively inexpensive. Once sanded it
will not splinter so it will be kind to bare feet.
Predrill for screws and use carbide blades.
"Ben Gold" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I'd like to build a wooden staircase outside my kitchen window
> (eventually will be a door).
>
> What's the best wood for outdoors? I seem to remember reading that some
> woods will last well even without sealants and such they'll turn gray,
> but will be fine.
>
> any advice?
>
> I'm not super interested in recycled-plastic materials, but considering
> it.
SonomaProducts.com wrote:
> Standard construction would use Redwood. Pretty much impervious to
> water problems. At the other end of the spectrum is Teak which is used
> for boat decks, etc. Will last much longer than redwood and cost a lot
> more but a real Cadillac solution. White Oak is also considered a good
> outdoor wood (not Red Oak). Cedar is good in weather too. Finally, lots
> of folks are touting Ipe. It is a Teak look alike that is becoming very
> popular for decking.
Whatever Ipe may be, it is not a _teak_ lookalike, it looks a lot more like
walnut. There seems to be this notion being spread by some folks that Ipe
is some kind of cheap imitation teak. Other than being a decay-resistant
tropical hardwood there's little resemblance between them. Ipe is almost
twice as dense, about three times as hard, about twice as strong, and has
about twice the shrinkage.
> Others may be able to comment on it's cost,
> availability and viability.
It's a commonly used decking material, it's hard, strong, decay resistant,
and doesn't burn without a huge amount of help. Pricing varies all over
the place. It's certainly viable.
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Your local code will decide that for you.
I suspect they will call for pressure treated SYP.
Ben Gold wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I'd like to build a wooden staircase outside my kitchen window
> (eventually will be a door).
>
> What's the best wood for outdoors? I seem to remember reading that some
> woods will last well even without sealants and such they'll turn gray,
> but will be fine.