wood for outdoor bench that’s painted

Quickstep | Posted in General Discussion on February 5, 2007 11:43am

My wife wants a garden bench for the front porch. To my great dissapointment, she wants it to be painted. While I realize that Mahogany, Cedar or Teak would be the best choices for outdoors, to me, it would be a sin to paint any of those. Poplar would paint nicely and be relatively inexpensive, but I know it would rot faster than a fence post. It’s under cover, but still subjected to some rain and sun. Any suggestions for something that’s rot resistant, paints well and will still let me sleep at night?

Replies

foxhound | Feb 05, 2007 11:50pm | #1
The best wood to use would be Spanish Cedar.
SteveSchoene | Feb 06, 2007 03:20am | #2
White oak (use the heartwood) would fit your requirements. It's sturdy and resists rot well, without being horribly expensive. Don't use red oak. No matter what the wood, thoroughly coat the contact surfaces with epoxy.
nikkiwood | Feb 06, 2007 03:35am | #3
A lot of people will use it, but poplar is a poor choice for any application that will be exposed to the weather.

The wood of choice in this situation really depends on what is available in your particular area. In MN I can easily get red cedar, but cypress is virtually unavailable. Straight grained (quarter sawn) Douglas fir is another choice, but around here it is available only on a hit or miss basis.

Aside from mahogany, teak, and white oak -- which you can pretty much get anywhere -- my best advice would be to go to a big lumber yard and ask for their recommendation.

I did this last fall, and my supplier touted something called "radiata" pine (which I had never heard of) for some storm windows I built for a client. This particular yard has a small mill shop, and that's what they use for storm doors and windows.

I was able to get it in 5/4, used an alkyd primer and 2 latex top coats, and am now hoping for the best <G>.

********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

John Wooden 1910-
tkumpf | Feb 06, 2007 06:58pm | #4
I've built lots of painted outdoor furniture. You may not believe it but in my opinion here's the best way to go. Purchase douglass fir 2x12's let them sit in a dry place (stickered) for as long as you can.
When you rip your pieces you will notice that out near the edges of the board you end up with quartersawn stuff!, bonus! Douglass fir is very strong, medium density and paints up great. I have some furniture that has stayed outside 15 years and it still is in good shape. I use loose tenon joinery with west system epoxy. tom
forestgirl | Feb 06, 2007 09:40pm | #5
My step-son's in the same club as you, LOL. When he and his wife were back East a few months ago, they saw some Adirondak chairs they liked. He's a car mechanic, and done little woodworking, but he carefully picked out nice, clear well-matched cedar and went to work. Now that they're all done, wifie informs him she wants them to be white!

forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)