*
Need to build a an outdoor deck for a sauna and spa.
Have been told that larch would be ideal in this hot dry climate.
Have also been told the same about hemlock.
This job is in Israel where any wood is at a premium. Ceder or teak are beyond budget. Pine would need too early replacement.
Can any one tell me if my supplier is right that the larch can be left exposed and untreated ?
In short, these are the two species which are in budget and I need soe input on which would be most durable.
Thanks for any help I can get/
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Skim-coating with joint compound covers texture, renews old drywall and plaster, and leaves smooth surfaces ready to paint.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
I don't know a lot about this, and over there you may have different species than here in the US, but larch would be a better choice for rot resistance than hemlock. I assume you are asking because these woods are available to you there. Someone may know the web address for the US forest products lab, they could be more helpful to you.
Good luck.
*Irving:According to the Wood Handbook (USDA Forest Service) in their Table 3-10 entitled "Groupings of Woods According to HEARTWOOD Decay" comes the following information:Slightly or nonresistant - Hemlocks, True firs, Pines (other than longleaf, slash and eastern white pine).Moderately resistant - Douglas fir, Western larch, Eastern White pine, Southern Yellow pines (Longleaf, slash).This creates a bit of a problem because it is impossible to distinguish anatomically the woods in the Southern Yellow pine (SYP) groups. You will not know whether you are getting shortleaf (NR) or longleaf (MR) if you buy SYP because once the log hits the mill, no differentiation is made.My recommendation would be to purchase a wood that is chemically treated with wood preservatives to retard decay organisms. Surface treatments are generally ineffective. In Oregon, nonresistant species in contact with soils generally decay in 3-5 years, and those that are moderately resistent are decayed in 7-12 years.If wood is such a dear commodity in Israel, I suggest you rethink its use as decking, or at least insure that the material you select will last as long as possible (hopefully longer than it takes to regenerate the material you are purchasing so that it will be sustainable).Stanley Niemiec -- Wood Technologist M. S. Penn St
*Irving,Don't have any experience with larch but I do use hemlock once and then. Hemlock lumber looks alot like pine but the grain is much bigger (I assume it's faster growing) and the surface tends to flake up pretty bad. I would think the huge man-eating splinter factor would make it a bad choice for a bare foot deck area. How about a composite product like "trex" ?Just my two cents.Be Well, PBP.S. I was just in the Galilee area last week. Very pretty there. Need carpenters?
*There are many types of larch, but all perform similarly to Douglas fir. It could probably be left untreated, but would last alot longer if you treated it with something.In Minnesota the only larch we grow is Tamarack, and most is used by the paper industry for high quality papers. Is the larch you are contemplating using imported from northern europe?
*Phat BastardThanks for the input. Yes, the Galili is pretty. Would live there if there were a living to be made.Are you in the country or were you just visiting? don't need carpenters at the moment but if you are looking for work I might be able to put you in touch with some people and I am always glad to know of another recourse for when I do need extra hands.Irv Rubin
*Irv,I was just passing through.Really liked the area around Nasereth (sp?) too.Lucky enough to have made the trip a few times before.I'm in Tennessee, in the u.s. of A. these days so I don't think I'd be much help from here. Most of what I saw was made of rock or concrete anyway. What you need is masons my friend, and lots of them.Keep building! and stay on the high ground.Be Well, PB