Replies

1. 
   WayneL5 | Aug 21, 2009 02:20am | #1

   Engineeered flooring is actually an excellent choice given the damp location.

   You may want to post at Fine Woodworking ("Knots") as well.

2. 
   WayneL5 | Aug 21, 2009 02:21am | #2

   Or the other thing is veneer plywood.

3. 
   Accelar | Aug 21, 2009 02:26am | #3

   bamboo ply ?

   Gavin Pitchford

   "Sail fast - live slow" (build even slower)

4. 
   frenchy | Aug 21, 2009 02:30am | #4

   Inddor pool? 

    Careful, very carefull! Not all mahogany is decay resistant in fact some is very prone to decay.. Only one I'm sure of is Honduras mahogany. In fact I think meranti (sp) I believe is what is know as Phillipine mahogany and it decays relatively easilly.

    Since it's for a pool and there will be a lot of humidity that is important.. I hoped you priced out stainless steel nails and screws as well or you will have a very unhappy client..  

5. 
   JasonQ | Aug 21, 2009 07:26am | #5

   Garapa is a nice material.  Quite a bit cheaper than Honduran mahogany, just as durable, and available in 1x6 T&G.   It's quite hard but still fairly easy to work with.  As it's a light tan color, you'd have to stain to match, but that's fairly easy to do.

   EDIT: Here's a link on the stuff.  

   http://www.advantagelumber.com/garapa_decking.htm

    

   
   

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   Edited 8/21/2009 12:31 am ET by JasonQ

1. 
   Adrian | Aug 21, 2009 02:41pm | #6

   I'm confused: did you quote mahogany, or sapele or meranti, neither of which is mahogany? Honduras mahogany has some resistance to rot; most of the subsitututes don't. If you want mahogany colour, but at a (possibly) lower cost, lyptus is another possibility, but I don't know about how well it stands up in a high humidity environment.

   Maybe think about milling something out of marine plywood? Made for that type of environment, and usually you get an excellent quality true mahogany veneer.

    Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

1. 
   cic317 | Aug 21, 2009 07:04pm | #10

   Thanks for all the input, having done alot of reading I come to find out that most of what is being sold as mahogany around here are basically other type of tropical hardwood, IE- sapele, meranti, ETC.all used as exterior decking products. Who knew! Ask for something specific & you have a slew of other types billed as.
   Plywood won't work not going for the raised paneling look, good idea!
   Well she is looking @ samples of Engineered flooring as I type so will post an update when I get an answer from customer

6. 
   davem | Aug 21, 2009 03:01pm | #7

   i saw a replica of an ancient boat, and all of the interior brightwork looked like mahogany, but was actually western red cedar.

7. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Aug 21, 2009 03:13pm | #8

   Did a foyer in stained Spanish cedar - beautiful stuff.

   Jeff

1. 
   Adrian | Aug 21, 2009 08:43pm | #12

   I didn't even think of Spanish cedar....which IS a mahogany, and I've used lot's of in cigar humidors....that would be perfect; don't even need to finish it. Not expensive either. Great suggestion.

    

    Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

8. 
   YesMaam27577 | Aug 21, 2009 06:42pm | #9

   Cabinet shop supply houses will carry (or be able to order) Mahogany-faced plywood. You could use real mahogany for the stiles and rails, and ply for the panels.

   Even less expensive would be to also use ply for the panels, the stiles, and the rails, and a real mahogany molding to cover the ply edges.

   Politics is the antithesis of problem solving.
9. 
   davem | Aug 21, 2009 08:32pm | #11

   my mistake, it was spanish cedar, not western red.

10. 
    mike_maines | Aug 21, 2009 09:15pm | #13

    We used a combination of Khaya and Sapele (collectively known as African mahogany) a few years ago on this project, when Honduran mahogany was in short supply.  Both are pretty stripey and dark (no stain, just oil-based poly here) but they have a rich look:

    http://harborsidedesign.com/living-spaces.cfm?row=13&photo=15&img=30

    http://harborsidedesign.com/millwork-details.cfm?row=17

    Spanish cedar looks more like Honduran mahogany.  Meranti and Camberra are in the same family of trees used for Luann plywood. 

    To keep the price down you might check around locally.  Black Cherry ages to a nice rich brown.  Black walnut ages to a nice amber tan.  Both are rot-resistant, especially walnut.

11. 
    BenM | Aug 21, 2009 10:27pm | #14

    The current issue of Fine Woodworking has an article on the different mahoganies and their look-alikes.

12. 
    alias | Aug 22, 2009 08:28pm | #15

    I've done three different inside pool rooms , mahogany is the best and in my opinion the most attractive. Ipe is plentiful , and haven't checked the price but at one time was some what competitive with tropical hardwoods . and talk about durable There are some issues moisture are the biggest problems and if there is a substantial air circulation issues addressed , mold and discoloration again are inevitable. A couple of design flaws are flat ceilings , and not enough sun (for a passive solar effect) barrel or arched ceilings promote convection, which is good for the above issue. Also plenty of doors or apply put sun permeation i.e. Lots of glass ,doors and windows . Anyhow i saw this product , link below maybe this could be an alternative....?? Anyhow good luck

    http://www.ufpi.com/product/latitudes/decking/capricorn.htm

    
    

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    Edited 8/22/2009 1:30 pm ET by alias