Replies

1. 
   r_ignacki | Jun 02, 2002 01:40am | #1

   cheap hardwood more commonly used for cabinets, running trim inside, used it once outdoors years ago ,when somebody stretched a dime, had afat crown made, put it way up on a parapet wall, well covered w/flashing, well back primed ,IMHO, there is other stuff you can use.

   no turn left unstoned  

2. 
   bobhallsr | Jun 02, 2002 06:39am | #2

   It's been used here in Southern Maryland for tobacco barns. These barns are boarded without battens. The boards are unfastened at the bottom(nailed or hinged at the top) so that they can be pulled away to aerate the barn during tobacco drying. You can see from this that they often get wet but the water always drains away. The barns are unpainted and the roof usually goes before the poplar sides.

   BJ

   Gardening, cooking and woodworking in Southern Maryland
3. 
   MrsReese | Jun 02, 2002 06:57am | #3

   I think "not exposed" means under a cover, not just painted. Like, you could use it for soffits but maybe not a good idea for corner boards. I'm not saying I know that about poplar, I'm just saying that's what comes into my mind when I hear "not exposed."

   Are you thinking of using clear poplar 1x boards like they sell at Home Depot in the section with the red oak planks and stuff? That's kind of expensive, isn't it? Why do you want to use that instead of pressure treated 1xs or cedar? Also note that "poplar" means different things to different people. In the Southeast it's a lovely strong tree in the magnolia family with strong, lightweight wood, and out west it's a tree in the ash family. Maybe aspen. I forget. Anyway, out West it's pithy junk. If somebody is trying to sell it to you for exterior use, it must be the magnolia family kind. It might be yellowish or greenish in color, but it will darken to look about like cherry in sunlight.

   Now that I think about it, though, I actually have some poplar on the outside of my house. I had some scraps of purple heart and another one regular color and I made a little medallion out of it and covered the end of my ridge beam on the front porch with it. I just rubbed it with Penetrol and nailed it on about 6 years ago. I could go look at it tomorrow and see how it's doing up there. I also have a boat made out of poplar, but it's completely encased in epoxy so it indicates nothing as to the suitability for exterior trim.

1. 
   Adrian | Jun 02, 2002 05:47pm | #4

   This is the second poplar question in a little while; the first one was about 'yellow poplar' being used outside; confused me, so I looked it up a little. Confused because where I'm from (Central and now eastern Canada), what I know as poplar is one of the very worst choices you can use outside.....no resistance to decay worth mentioning, in the same class as basswood. Anyway, in the bit of reading I've done so far, yellow poplar isn't a poplar at all (liriodendron family, not populus. As someone said, it's member of the magnolia family, and the poplars are in the willow family); it's also called tuliptree, tulip magnolia, and tulip poplar, among others....it's a Southern wood, not native to my region, and it was used by native Americans to make canoes (that kinda implies it stands up to moisture). But the uses listed are mostly specifically interior, and I don't know if I've ever run across it. On the other hand, that may be what I've been using for years as 'poplar' without knowing that it wasn't one.

   The poplars that I think I know (but I have to do more looking into this, for sure) seem to be aspens and balsam poplars, and maybe hybrids.What I see here in the east is generally lighter in colour and less greenish than what I'm used to in Central Canada. Whatever they are, they are definitely no-nos for exterior use. But that's in the north central and North east regions.

   Anyway, I guess I'm agreeing with BReese....you need to find out what it is they're offering you, whcih proabably depends on where you are, before you can decide.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S

1. 
   Snort | Jun 03, 2002 01:12am | #5

   Backprimed and painted tulip poplar will do just fine with all the normal precautions (keep 8" above grade, no standing water wicking into end grain...) Paints nicely and doesn't have a grain raising problem like pine, fir and cedar. Like BJ sez, it's been used for barn and house siding around here (NC) for a couple hundred years, and a lot of times with no paint. And, like Adrian sez, check out what you're getting...though I've never seen any other kind of wood called poplar and commercially available...

   Good luck, BB

   Edited 6/2/2002 6:13:56 PM ET by bucksnort billy

1. 
   ClevelandEd | Jun 03, 2002 06:13am | #6

   I'd swear that my 160 year old house is sided in poplar and that poplar also was used on the roof.  It has that strong greenish color to it.  It has held up very well and  I wouldn't say that anyone made any compromises in using it back in 1841.  However, the reputation of poplar today is so poor for weather resistance that I can't help but think that the slow growth heartwood from the virgin forests had entirely different characteristics than what is milled today.    

2. 
   royr | Jun 03, 2002 12:15pm | #7

   Thanks for the info,I'll look into it a bit more. I was trying to avoid the knots from pine trim having to be sealed before painting. I'll probably go with clear pine when it's time to trim. I'm using it on the interior but have never used it outside.

   Thanks again

1. 
   OneofmanyBobs | Jun 03, 2002 02:19pm | #8

   If you're going to pay for clear pine, check out

   Spanish Cedar. Mills nice, stable, better weather

   resistance, probably comparable cost. White pine

   is not so great. Yellow pine holds up OK, but harder

   to find clear pieces. Go to a genuine millwork place.

   Lots of options, lots of prices. They can give you

   good advice based on what species are available in

   your area. Poplar will work OK, but it would probably

   be about number 10 on my list.

2. 
   Davo304 | Jun 06, 2002 09:04am | #9

   Hey Rupert71'

   Bob told you right, don't buy CLEAR PINE for paint grade trim. You must have lots of money, because it seems you aren't afraid to waste it! I actually can buy kiln dried Red Oak at various lumber mills CHEAPER than I can buy Clear White Pine at my local lumber yards (FYI...Mills and Yards are not the same thing.)

   Also. in the East, Poplar is no good at all as an exterior grade wood. It is excellent for interior grade trim, or even for cabinetry; whether painted or just stained. BUT exterior...no way! I've seen rough cut 4x4 Poplar (which we used for cutting railroad wedge "wheel chocks") rot away in less than a months time when left exposed unprotected outdoors.

   If you want to use pine, then use #2 grade and prime the knots. Like Bob mentioned, lots of other woods to choose from. Heck, mahogany is very cheap in my area...cheaper than your clear white pine; and it weathers better too.

   In the end its really your choice, but I hate to see any wood that is clear grained become "spoiled" by being painted. It's almost a sin!

   Davo.

1. 
   royr | Jun 06, 2002 03:51pm | #10

   Dave ..........Thanks for the info. I'll probably go with #2 pine. Just wanted to see what everyone thought about poplar

   Thanks

   Roy

1. 
   JDRHI | Jun 06, 2002 04:43pm | #11

   Stay away from Poplar for exterior uses. I know the old window sills were made using it, but there are more stable choices in todays market. I try and use cedar for exteriors whenever possible.J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

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