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We have built an outdoor bench that is made up of segmented pie shapes to create a “snaking” effect. Herin lies my problem….. We chose to use Cypress for the seat and back of the bench.(the structure is galvanized steel)The Cypress has since cupped and the grain is splintering. What is the best species of wood to use in an outdoor application. Kiln dried treated pine, Fir, Teak, Pau Lope’. My pieces are approximately 19″ deep x 12″ tapering to 5″. Also what, if anything, should I use to preserve the wood.
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Joel, treated pine and fir will both get splintery with age. Ipe, mahogany, maybe merenti (I think in the luaun family), teak, port orford cedar--these are all good choices and commonly available and naturally rot resistant. Anything 12" wide will have a hard time outdoors, though--can you redesign so pieces are 6" wide or less? Try to use vertical grain stock to minimize cupping, too.
To finish or not to finish--oil is mostly for looks, may help with checking, and will need to be redone every year (two at the most). Being not inclined toward maintenance, I wouldn't finish them, just let them age naturally, but that's just me. Good luck,
MM
*IN my Humble oppinion cedear Please
*You could use white oak, which will withstand the outdoor elements well also.
*Joel - You are not the first person to tackle outdoor furniture. What are the manufacturers (Barlow Tyrie, etc.) using? Teak of course. Better not to try and put a finish on it. I suspect that almost anything 12" wide will cup, especially if the end grain is exposed pointing up - you see very little in outdoor wood furniture wider than about 6" for just that reason, and most end grain is oriented horizontally.Meranti cups if wide but will last. Pau Lope is expensive (12" $Yikes$) and heavy but has lots of extractives. Won't oak twist and eventually turn black, especially if wide?
*Cypress is a good choice. If you are around here & can get some Kentucky Coffee Bean that works well also.
*Oak is very durable, like all woods will eventually darken with exposure to the elements. Most of the rest of the woods will turn silver. I like Black Walnut. It's cheap, decay resistant and not very expensive.
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We have built an outdoor bench that is made up of segmented pie shapes to create a "snaking" effect. Herin lies my problem..... We chose to use Cypress for the seat and back of the bench.(the structure is galvanized steel)The Cypress has since cupped and the grain is splintering. What is the best species of wood to use in an outdoor application. Kiln dried treated pine, Fir, Teak, Pau Lope'. My pieces are approximately 19" deep x 12" tapering to 5". Also what, if anything, should I use to preserve the wood.