What is a good substitute wood for Honduran mahogany? I am replacing exterior stair treads.?
Owner will not accept treated yellow pine, cedar, or redwood. I am reluctant to use Luan mahogany as I do not think it holds up well in exterior use. Thanks for any suggestions.
4 Responses
Richard
08 Mar 2011
Steve Tower
08 Mar 2011
The best is Ipe. It is tropical and is generally grown responsibly but not always. It is an excellent wood for exterior use. Dense, strong, rot resistant, looks nice, a little pricey though.
The composite materials are good too, they are cheaper, come in colors and last a long time and are available at all home centers
Peter W
08 Mar 2011
For exterior use and assuming untreated wood, there is Teak, Cypress, and various west-African Mahoganies. The issue is durability vs. resistance to rot. Some woods that are good in exterior applications are simply not very durable as a stair tread.
Were it up to me, I would use either short-leaf yellow pine that has been primed and painted on all six sides or maple similarly treated. You could use an epoxy or polyester primer for durability and an exterior flooring enamel with sand broadcast into it for the finish and slip resistance. Cut it, fit it, *then* paint it. Lay it in mastic/glue before screwing it, then coat the screw-heads as you did with the wood. Try to stay away from hardwoods other than maple as (especially stay away from oak) as they tend not to do well outside.
A lot of trouble, but with a difficult customer a reasonable solution.
J
08 Mar 2011
There is one wood I do not see mentioned yet. It is sustainable and has the durability to be used outside. It is called Tigerwood or Brazilian Koa. Its unique grain pattern may not be to your customers liking. If that is the case I would have to agree with the other post that said Ipe. I have built many decks in Washington State’s San Juan Islands, a harsh wet salt environment, using both Ipe and Tigerwood. Both woods are superior for outdoor applications.
http://www.brazilianhardwood.com/products/flooring/braziliankoa/?gclid=CMLepPibk6ICFRNZiAod8CApZQ
Teak or swamp cypress are renowned for being excellent exterior woods. They are very water and insect resistant and require little or no maintenance.
Jarrah and ipe are two lesser-known choices but some wood working sites (www.woodweb.com) have recommended them for exterior use.
When I last checked at my lumber dealer, all four of the above are NOT inexpensive woods…nor is Honduran mahogany as I recall. The budget options are the ones the owner has rejected.
Enjoy.