Replies

1. 
   BOBABEUI | Jul 21, 2007 12:00am | #1

   Ipe sounds like a perfect wood for your application, hard as nails, dense, fairly inexpensive, commonly used for decking on outdoor decks. Eventually weathers to a silver gray..

2. 
   nikkiwood | Jul 21, 2007 12:39am | #2

   Red Oak is definitely not a good choice, but white oak would be fine.

   Most use either pressure treated or cedar, but other species would be ok -- depending on what is available to you locally. You could also use one of the composite materials now widely available for decking.

   ********************************************************
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3. 
   Lataxe | Jul 21, 2007 05:31pm | #3

   V,

   Is iroko or teak a possibility where you are (I know they are expensive in some locales)?  Both are durable so won't rot outdoors; but they also have a lot of silica in them and have a reputation as hard-wearers - ideal for steps.  Certainly iroko is used a lot in Britain for those bare-wood indoor stairways, because it wears so well.

   Lataxe

4. 
   mike4244 | Jul 22, 2007 05:53pm | #4

   White oak, ipe fine for outdoor use. Red oak will rot quickly. Luan may be okay, never used it for treads, but it is used for boat trim and used to be used for hulls before fiberglass was used.Redwood and black locust, not readily available everywhere but suitable for outdoor use. Ipe would be my personal choice,

   mike

5. 
   Glaucon | Jul 22, 2007 06:00pm | #5

   Red oak will rot.

   White oak (many a clipper and ship of the line was made from it), pressure treated lumber, ipe, teak or mahogany. For something less expensive, the composite materials are pretty good.

   Cedar and fir are both rot resistant, but fairly soft, and may not wear well as treads.

   Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...