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Black Locust for exterior porch deck

jmghome | Posted in Construction Techniques on March 29, 2013 04:49am

We just started construction of a 3000 SF custom home in  Eastern Pa. There were 2 good sized Black Lucust trees on the property that we have had cut into 16′ lengths and sent to a sawyer to make into dek boards for covered front porch. They will be air dried for 3 months and then klln dried to 6% moisture content. 16 feet long x 5 1/2″ wide and 5/4 thick. Anyone have any experience with Black Lucust? John

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  1. oldhand | Mar 29, 2013 08:06pm | #1

    6% ?

    I haven't had much ex[eroence with black locust  but have decked several porches with other hardwood species.

    I also don't know the conditions of Penn. but around here  [North AR.] a porch deck will average 12% moisture eventually so if you put it down at 6% you'd have to allow for swelling.

    Might be a bit different in your climate of course.

  2. calvin | Mar 29, 2013 09:44pm | #2

    Take a close look at Oldhands post

    Drying down your wood that will be used outdoors that low will be more trouble than it's worth.   There's an equalibrium you try to reach where the MC of the material you use would be close to the surroundings.   If you should be installing in the dryer winter months, then allow room for expansion.

  3. DaveRicheson | Mar 31, 2013 11:55am | #3

    Black locus

    I've only used it for fence post and then only when it was green.  Dried it is harder than hickory.  Predrill for your fasters.

    Air drying takes about a year per inch of thickness and will get it down to about 12-18 % around here durring a hot summer.

  4. AndyEngel | Apr 01, 2013 10:30am | #4

    Black Locust

    Locust is a great, naturally decay resistant species. It's hard like a rock, though. Screw it down before it dries completely. Also, be sure your building inspector buys into it. It's easy enough to point him to the part of the IRC that allows the use of naturally decay resistant species, but he could be a stickler and require the decking to be grade stamped. If that's the case, you're pretty much out of luck.

  5. VaTom | Apr 03, 2013 09:36am | #5

    When I bought my horse drawn road grader 15 years ago the operator's platform was missing.  I used 6/4 black locust, sawn and air-dried here.  This wonderful piece of machinery has never been under cover of any sort.  After rain and snow and sleet the never-finished deck has some checking but is nowhere near replacement.  

    You could do a whole lot worse than black locust.  Just be sure it is black locust.  Honey locust does not have that rot resistance.  As already pointed out, forget the kiln.  3 months, if you have it properly stickered and ventilated, is adequate.  Keep the sun off it.

    No idea what finish you had in mind but I've applied a wide variety and never had a problem.  Very definitely an excellent exterior wood.  Always milled for lumber here when I get a tree large enough.  

  6. SimonThompson | Apr 03, 2013 07:11pm | #6

    i live in area that has lots of black locust, great wood for outdoor use. 

    really hard to work, no pun intended!

    have ALOT of countersink bits and be ready to snap lots of screws.

    should last a long time

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