Just got back from a roadtrip from SE MN to Charleston, SC. (Tennessee is a great place to buy fireworks) Toured some plantations and historic district. On one plantation tour saw some slave cabins purportedly to have been there for 150+ years made of cypress with cypress clapboards. Still looked pretty sound to me. Makes the CCA claim of 30 – 40 years sound pretty hollow.
Would seem like cypress would be a great eco-alternate to pressure treated, providing it is still actually available in sizes, quantities and reasonable $.
Can anyone verify that cypress could still be around and kicking after 150 years of Charleston climate? Any suggested cypress material sources?
I know, I could do a www search, but would like the info from you guys without the hype one seems to get on the web.
Replies
johnnyd,
Yes, old growth cypress can last a long time if it doesn't stay wet. Old growth can still be bought and I can provide some phone numbers. Most comes from "sinkers" which have been sunk in the Miss.River or buried in the swamp. Price will depend on grain, color, and widths. From about $4 a BF and up. New growth, which is not as rot resistant or tight grained, can be had for $.70 a BF and up.
Down the cypress bayou,
KK
Is it still commonly used as a building material...the new growth material...where readily available even though pricy? As an alternative for cedar? Like for 6X6 or 4X4 deck posts and beams? Or 5-quarter deck boards?
New growth (called grobeck) is used for board and bat or lap siding. I have not seen it used on decks and think it would rot where it touched another board. We use OG for historical repairs, like porches, steps, exterior trim and interior trim and cabinets. Cypress that grows in water tends to grow slower and is redder than the upland cypress.
KK
Cypress lumber is readily available in the Pacific Northwest.
Maybe more so then SYP ?
My brother in Seattle built a fairly large second story deck and used cypress for the rails on the deck and stairs.
Hey, I'm from over on the Knots side, but I like to read both groups;
Cypress is a great wood for rot resistance. The most resistant type is commonly referred to as Swamp Cypress. The supplier I talked to about cypress for a wood fence gets his from Florida, where it grows in (surprise) the swamps around the Everglades. The price I was quoted was similar to pine. But it really varies depending on the time of year. The best time to buy it is around Jan-Feb since the demand is lower (at least in the MW, where I am). The guy I get it from will mill it any way you like. I got him to mill it into old fashioned 4x4 posts (where it is actually 4"x4"). The best alternative to Cypress around here is Michigan White Cedar, which is usually slightly cheaper, but not much. The guy I have dealt with in the past is in Illinois, and his name is Craig Wacch. You might want to find someone closer to you, though. I can give you his ph# privately if you want. He might even refer you to someone in your area.
Tom