White Oak Exterior Stairs
Please advise… will white oak (painted) hold up better over the long run than painted clear cedar? Cost is not of an issue
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Replies
White oak is a good choice for exterior wood.
Doug
White oak has a pretty good natural rot resistance, and it will wear far better than cedar. One caution applies to all wood used outdoors, however. Sapwood rots. Avoid it.
Another good choice that's available at local sawmills (my experience is in New England, NJ, and Pennsylvania) is locust. That stuff will outlast the nails, and it wears like iron. The only caveat is to work it green. Once dried, you practically need metal working tools.
Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
Andy, a question about working with Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Roughly how long do you have from the time the tree is felled before you need metalworking tools?
Friends of mine took down a sizeable tree a few weeks ago ... thought I might try to do something with it, besides firewood (for which it is also very good).
Allen
The time depends on the storage conditions. Keep it wet, and it should remain workable for years. Dry it out, and you're stuck.
If the tree has only been down for a few weeks and hasn't been sawn up, I'd guess you're in fine fettle.Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom