Replies

1. 
   Clay | May 25, 2004 06:28pm | #1

   Most cypress is used as planks rather than posts but it is famously weather resistant.  I would think that our only domestic post timbers that might be better are eastern red cedar and black locust.

2. 
   stancalow | May 26, 2004 02:46am | #2

   dave,

   I'm no expert, but I don't think any non--pressure treated wood is going to stand up to being buried for long.  Cypress is good above ground, but full time moisture, acid/alkaline soil, bugs and freeze/thaw are going to do a number on it.   If you're building anything sturctural, it won't pass code either. 

   S

1. 
   Sphere | May 26, 2004 02:55am | #3

   au contraire..I have seen and pulled out fence posts of cedar, locust, chestnut, osage..still sound and holdin up fencing after 75 yrs. or more. I personnaly have on my property PT SYP poles that are rotted and eaten up, after 15.  My front porch joists are creosoted white oak, installed in the 40's..they were resting on the ground, still hard as a rock. 

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations. 

1. 
   kevarc | May 26, 2004 05:03pm | #4

   I live in South Louisiana. Between my property and my cousin's next door there is a cypress fence. It has been there at least 30 years and some of the posts that are buried in the ground are starting to have rot. About 1 out of 6 show it. My Uncle pulled some a few years ago and planed it and used the wood to make a "cajun microwave". It should last a long time before it needs to be replaced. This would happen with any wood, even that treated with AGP. I work for a utility down here and for comparision, a treated telephone pole is expected to have a 10-15 minimum life span.

1. 
   Sphere | May 26, 2004 05:13pm | #5

   Yeah, I shoulda added in La. all bets are off..

   there is a thread on termites over at BT..and having been a PCO I know how bad La. can be on wood.

   Cypress will last hundreds of years tho if kept submerged..it takes oxygen for the bugs and rot to work. 

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations. 

3. 
   KeithNewton | May 26, 2004 05:53pm | #6

   Dave, I didn't see any mention of sapwood. The cypress heartwood has great rot and bug resistance, but all sapwood is like candy to insects, and rot. If you are going to use it under harsh conditions you should take care to use the heartwood only, and sometiomes it is hard to tell the difference with cypress.