Hello,
One summer project I have in mind is creating wooden railings on my front stairs – on the north facing side of the house, so only spring and summer sunlight. I want to create some newel posts at the top and bottom of the stairs. I want to use wood and hopefully paint them.
My question is what type of wood should I use given that it will be outside and painted? The stairs will be mahogany.
Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks, Joe, Boston MA
Replies
Joe
hold your horses...
you you won't be seeing them steps till next October.
True - I hadn't thought of that, even though I had just finished shoveling YET again.....planning ahead I guess.
Thanks for the laugh.....
True - I hadn't thought of that, even though I had just finished shoveling YET again.....planning ahead I guess.
Thanks for the laugh.....
If it is going to be painted anyway, then wood is likely not your best choice.
If it is going to be painted
How about if I wasn't going to paint the wood - what type should I use?
Joe
I've used treated, cedar and fir. Must say I liked working with the fir best.
cuts easy, machines well and if you detail the sealing of any cuts, seems to last.
the cedar I used I found at a fence supply. They allowed me to sort through which is a plus. Appreciated me re stacking exactly as I found it and cut me a good price. Plan (might) on stickering to pull down the moisture content to ambient. You want it close to your area. It was a fence company. They had some real choice posts with minimal knottage.
The fir was $ more but choice. The lengths available worked out so only inches scrap. That from a local quality yard.
.disclaimer. Both these purchases about 14 yrs ago. You mileage may vary.
Take a look at what Forrest did http://forums.delphiforums.com/breaktimeclass/messages/?msg=12757.1
He reused the spinndles but there's no wood in the horizontal pieces IIRC. Nyloboard.