Hello All,
I am hoping to get some input on a wood choice for a set of gates I am building. These will be replacements for a set that I built 10 years ago and I am now wanting to modify the construction/material with longevity a concern. They will be frame and panel construction using full mortise and tenon joints. Since they are rather wide and I can’t split the panels with a mullion because of the design (a large heart is located in the center of the upper panel), I am planning on using a marine plywood panel that is grooved to minimize movement. In the past I have used Poplar and Pine for the frames (separate gates) and the pine seemed to be more stable. The gates are painted at least once a year but do get Western exposure. The location is in New Mexico which has a huge temperature change during the course of the day. I am open to using any wood, finish or composite material that will provide a long life and be aesthetically pleasing. The width of the gates is 42″ so the movement of the panels can cause undue stress so therefore I am going to a composite type material for the panels. Any input would be humbly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Ken
Replies
gate materials
I'm not clear on the panel aspect of the design of your gates, but on the question of long-lasting materials, I would think the choice would be similar to that for outdoor furniture. Teak, white oak, Ipé, cypress are often suggested for outdoor furniture, as I recall.
Temptation
I'm tempted to say fiberglass or aluminum.
temptation
I might be wrong, but I think you did just say "fiberglass or aluminum". ;-)
I would go with Cypress. It is fairly inexpensive and will not rot. It does have a tendency to move quite a bit with the seasons, so try to get some that has a tighter grain. I've also noticed that an oil based exterior stain seems to work the best with cypress. It is an oily wood, and some paints do not like to adhere properly.
Update
Hi All,
Thanks for all your input, it was appreciated. For the frame work, I went with White Pine. It is not exactly what I was looking for but the price was reasonable, the wood clear and I have used it in the past for one exterior gate that held up very well. The second choice was Spanish Cedar which there was not enough in reasonably good condition to do the project and the cost was twice. African Mahogany was available but not in the dimensions I was using, so there would have been too much waste and again the price was too high. It can be frustrating living in NM in regards to wood selections.
For the panels, I went with a T&G plastic product. I think it is a PVC based. Expansion from moisture and cold/heat is negligible. It is a solid product with a width of 5 1/8" and a thickness of 5/8". Of all the products I researched this one best met my criteria. Since both the frames and panels get painted, I think this combination should work.
I am in the process of milling everything now and should be starting the joinery this week.
Thanks Again,
Ken
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