Replies

1. 
   piffin_ | Dec 01, 2001 03:43am | #1

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   I haven't used it but it should be better than cedar for posts like this. tamarack has traditionally been used for fence posts, Keels, knees, and other applications where strength and rot resistence are important. Like most woods that grow in wet locations, it has natural substances in the cells to resist bacterial decay.

1. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Dec 01, 2001 05:25am | #2

   *Tamarack/larch is a species that a lot of mills in my area are trying to promote, for outdoor use, and also as flooring. Very good properties as both. the biggest problem seems to be that it doesn't have the reputation yet to get the price it needs to justify the csot of milling it.I know some mills here have Newfoundlanders working for them; when they see some of this in a mill run, they squirrel it away for their own use, they have suchh a high regard for it.

1. 
   G.LaLonde | Dec 01, 2001 05:55am | #3

   *I don't know about it's use for deck posts, but they used it for supports in the iron mine tunnels at the turn of the century and you can still find it there today and in pretty good condition after 100 years.

1. 
   Frenchy_Dampier | Dec 01, 2001 05:57am | #4

   *Yahooo, I can recommend Tamarack because I have a lot of Tamarack going into my new house. All of the bottom plates ( approved by the building inspector) most of the floor joists and some of the roof decking is tamarack. God is it heavy stuff!!!!!! I mean I can barely lift a 2"x12" x20' board and I can tell evan in the dark with my eyes closed if it's pine or tamarack. One I can lift and put into position by myself the other I scream for help! Remember Tamarck is a hardwood and driving nails, sawing, drilling etc. is more like oak than cedar. Very pretty wood, Orange with real distinctive growth rings. Almost too pretty to paint etc.

1. 
   Armin_ | Dec 01, 2001 06:18am | #5

   *In addition to being rot resistant it makes pretty cool looking paneling also, real grainy looking combining a rustic and polished look if finished properly. Hard to nail, also prone to twisting in the drying stages.

2. 
   crosscutt_ | Dec 01, 2001 06:18am | #6

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   A deck customer would like to use cedar posts for a deck that is planned. Since cedar is hard to find and expensive when found, one lumber yard quoted me $10 L/F I started looking for an alternative. A local yard offered me tamarack as an alternative to the cedar. Anybody recommend it?..or not? Thanks, cc