Best wood for garden furniture
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- This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 2 months ago by Steve Follis.
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17 February 2014 at 4:06 pm #27960
Well, it’s nearly spring (stop laughing, it is), and to prevent my wife buying more junk from Ikea, I’m going to build an outdoor table and chairs.
I’ve never built anything for use outdoors and I’m certain pine will not be suitable. What wood would you recommend that’s freely available from UK timber merchants and isn’t going to cost an arm and a leg?
Hey Dave,
Exceptionally resistant: black locust, red mulberry, osage orange, and Pacific yew.
Resistant or very resistant: old-growth bald cypress, catalpa, cedar (either eastern or western red cedar), black cherry, chestnut, junipers, honey locust, white oak, old-growth redwood, sassafras, and black walnut.
Moderately Resistant: second-growth bald cypress, Douglas fir, eastern larch, western larch, old-growth eastern white pine, old-growth longleaf pine, old-growth slash pine, and second-growth redwood.Source: http://www.garden.org/articles/articles.php?q=show&id=977
Hope that helps. The quality of the wood is as important as the species. There are very rot resistant species like larch that aren’t too rot resistant if they are badly grown. I think Steve @crance is a garden furniture expert.
17 February 2014 at 11:18 pm #27984Thanks Florian, but I am not sure if expert is the word I would use.
I have done a fair amount of outdoor furniture, I primarily use Western Red Cedar, or Cypress, mainly because they are more affordable. I have also used African Teak, Opepe, White Oak, and Ipe, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. One thing I do not use is pressure treated lumber for outdoor furniture. I will use the pressure treated on structural items, but not for furniture or places that kids will be handling, to many warning labels for my comfort level.
Dave, I don’t know what types of wood you have readily available to choose from, so I don’t think I could offer much advice, but I would be interested in hearing how your project progresses and what you end up using.
18 February 2014 at 7:16 am #28007Thanks Steve, it looks like Teak is going to be my best bet, if I can buy it locally at a decent price.
I’ll keep you posted.
18 February 2014 at 2:17 pm #28012Burmese Teak, (Genuine Teak) is probably one of the best choices out there for outdoor use, but it is not cheap here in the US. It runs in excess of $20 per board foot. I have used Iroko, (African Teak) and it is runs about $6 per board foot if you find a good deal. By comparison, I pay less than $2 per board foot for Western Red Cedar, and $1.35 per board foot for Cypress.
I really enjoyed working with the Iroko, it works well, and it looks really good. It can be tough on your blades, so you have to keep your shaprening stones handy. From what I have been told the working charistics are very similar to the Burmese Teak.
If you find a good deal on the Burmese Teak, I want to come hang out with you while you work on your project! I’m only a few thousand miles away!
18 February 2014 at 7:26 pm #28022Update: my wife says I can’t sell the kids to buy teak, so I’m going to go with Iroko instead.
Dave, Most any wood can be used with the right treatment or protection. I say that because my kids are already grown and selling them is no longer an option. I have used construction grade pine. It’s not as pretty but keep a good coat of paint on it and it will last many years. Ive got some chairs that have been out next to my fire pit made out of pine and it’s been out in the weather for 5-6 years. I paint it every time I paint the house.
19 February 2014 at 12:46 am #28042I believe the best I could get in trade for my spoiled kids would be some spalted lumber.
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