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I’ve bought and used a good deal of Cypress here in Louisiana. I use clear cypress for custon doors and windows, and quartersawn cypress can be used as flooring.
However, cypress is often used here in order to keep things in the vernacular, not because it’s particularly the most suitable material.
A popular misconception is that all cypress provides good rot resistance. Only old growth “red” heart cypress provides good rot resistance. At $1 per board foot, you’re looking at juvenile “white” cypress, which is not at all suitable for outdoor applications. The heart cypress you need would cost you 10 times that.
Cypress also shrinks and expands a great deal, and does not not wear well.
Anyone else?
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I've bought and used a good deal of Cypress here in Louisiana. I use clear cypress for custon doors and windows, and quartersawn cypress can be used as flooring.
However, cypress is often used here in order to keep things in the vernacular, not because it's particularly the most suitable material.
A popular misconception is that all cypress provides good rot resistance. Only old growth "red" heart cypress provides good rot resistance. At $1 per board foot, you're looking at juvenile "white" cypress, which is not at all suitable for outdoor applications. The heart cypress you need would cost you 10 times that.
Cypress also shrinks and expands a great deal, and does not not wear well.
Anyone else?
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So, the pictures that these mills are posting showing it used as ext. siding and decking are fakes, or just bad uses of "white" cypress?
What does the white cypress do in the elements?
We use alot of cypress mulch up here, and the stuff doesn't go anywhere. It doesn't degrade or anything. It actually isn't good for the soil because it causes it to mold underneath because it just blankets the soil
I appreciate the insight. Any other folks have some advice on this? Now I'm sort of back to square one on my search for an affordable decking material vs. PT.
Matt
*Matt,Check out the current issue of that Fine Homebuilding magazine. There is an article on the different materials for decks: pros, cons, and costs.Rich Beckman
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Trying to find a source for Cypress (for a deck) in the Midwest area (Ohio). I've searched the internet and have found one place so far, but their minimum order is 1000bf. I'm only calculating that I'll need at most 500bf. Their price isn't bad (.98/bf), but again I don't need 1000bf.
Have any of you in my area ordered Cypress before?
I've considered using PT, the platics, etc....for this deck. Trying to find something that won't cause me to go back to the bank officer for more construction $$$$, and to the store each year for maintenance products. Cypress seems to be reasonably priced, provided I can find some.
Matt