I've been asked to rebuild an outside fence gate for my father. This is a
rather low colonial like gate, I guess. I'll post a picture next week after
I het the old one. But in the mean time I was ondering what kind of wood
should I use for it. It will be outside and it will be painted. I'ver
heard Ceder or Cypris. What about hard woods like Poplar or maple. I could
really use some help here, I've never built anything for the outdoors.
Thanks
Ben
I've had good luck with western red cedar.
"Len" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >I've been asked to rebuild an outside fence gate for my father. This is
a
> >rather low colonial like gate, I guess. I'll post a picture next week
after
> >I het the old one. But in the mean time I was ondering what kind of wood
> >should I use for it. It will be outside and it will be painted. I'ver
> >heard Ceder or Cypris. What about hard woods like Poplar or maple. I
could
> >really use some help here, I've never built anything for the outdoors.
>
> I don't live where such exotic woods grow, like maple or poplar. We
> use redwood out here. Special primer for the tannic acids, but then
> paints well. Except wood should never be painted, no?
> Cedar is the other wood, but it doesn't grow out here, however it does
> last as well.
I wouldn't use cypress unless it is old-growth cypress. It moves too much
with changes in moisture. I use cypress for outdoor use when the cypress is
fastened down in such a way that is can't move much. A gate is free hanging
and can move around a lot. Some time back, I made some doors for an outdoor
barbeque out of cypress and put on 3 coats of polyurethane. Depending on
the weather, the doors would bow out about 3/4" or in 3/4".
Two favorites would be mahogany or spanish cedar. Considering the cost of
mahogany, spanish cedar is a good choice for an exterior wood. Check out
http://www.exotichardwoods-southamerica.com/cedarspanish.htm .
White oak would be a good choice also (it is used for boats and caskets),
but considering the weight, I still think spanish cedar is a better choice
for a gate.
Preston
"Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've been asked to rebuild an outside fence gate for my father. This is a
> rather low colonial like gate, I guess. I'll post a picture next week
after
> I het the old one. But in the mean time I was ondering what kind of wood
> should I use for it. It will be outside and it will be painted. I'ver
> heard Ceder or Cypris. What about hard woods like Poplar or maple. I
could
> really use some help here, I've never built anything for the outdoors.
>
> Thanks
> Ben
>
>
>I've been asked to rebuild an outside fence gate for my father. This is a
>rather low colonial like gate, I guess. I'll post a picture next week after
>I het the old one. But in the mean time I was ondering what kind of wood
>should I use for it. It will be outside and it will be painted. I'ver
>heard Ceder or Cypris. What about hard woods like Poplar or maple. I could
>really use some help here, I've never built anything for the outdoors.
I don't live where such exotic woods grow, like maple or poplar. We
use redwood out here. Special primer for the tannic acids, but then
paints well. Except wood should never be painted, no?
Cedar is the other wood, but it doesn't grow out here, however it does
last as well.
This link provides a lot of info from a fence manufacturer. It should
be enought to get you started.
http://www.fenceonline.com/faq-wood.html
Tim
Ben wrote:
> I've been asked to rebuild an outside fence gate for my father. This is a
> rather low colonial like gate, I guess. I'll post a picture next week after
> I het the old one. But in the mean time I was ondering what kind of wood
> should I use for it. It will be outside and it will be painted. I'ver
> heard Ceder or Cypris. What about hard woods like Poplar or maple. I could
> really use some help here, I've never built anything for the outdoors.
>
> Thanks
> Ben
>
>
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