This soft wood splinters easily but holds up well in rain sun heat and cold.
Best wood for porch beams.
Within a few years the cedar ages to a silvery gray.
Janka ratings relate directly to the density or hardness of a wood.
Fir is an excellent wood for highly finished post beam frames and commercial work because of its strength and beautiful grain.
Your geographic location will determine the availability and cost of these materials.
In addition to their beauty tropical hardwoods are sought after for their density and resilience to the elements.
Turned columns sometimes referred to as victorian maintain a series of circles or profile lines centered between top and bottom.
The wood you choose should have an excellent resistance to decay and cedar is one such wood.
Western red cedar is reddish brown.
The harder the wood the stronger and more resilient it will be.
Redwood for example is widely available and used in the western united states.
These have the highest resistance to rot over time.
Its color ranges from light red to pale yellow.
The best wood to use on exterior porch columns.
The three most widely available and suitable exterior lumber choices not treated with chemical preservatives include western red cedar redwood and cypress.