There are plenty of wood products to choose from, depending on your needs. Here’s a handy guide to see how different options stack up against each other based on the most important factors to consider for your outdoor project.
Impact on environment
Durability
Lifespan
Maintenance
Appearance
Strength
Cost
Black Locust
★★★★★ Quick growth and fast reproduction, 40 years average age to harvest a lumber producing tree.
★★★★★ Naturally rot resistant.
★★★★★ 50+ years
★★★★★ 100% maintenance free
★★★★★ Tight grained, golden to brown, excellent detail
★★★★☆ 10,180 MCS / 1,700 Janka
$$$ (Moderate)
IPE (and other tropical hardwood)
★☆☆☆☆ Unsustainable. Trees take hundreds of years to reach lumber-producing size.
★★★★★ Naturally rot resistant.
★★★★★ 30+ years
★★★★★ Can be oiled annually to keep color rich
★★★★★ Tight grained, golden to brown, excellent detail
★★★★★ 13,000 MCS / 3,600 Janka
$$$$ (Expensive)
Western cedar, redwood, cypress
★★★☆☆ Species sustainable with proper forestry management.
★★★☆☆ Can rot without treatment and susceptible to insects.
★★★☆☆ 10+ years
★☆☆☆☆ Annual cleaning, sanding, sealing required.
★★★☆☆ Open grained, varying colors, detail varies from straight grained to excellent detail.
★★★☆☆ 7,500 MCS / 350 to 500 Janka
$-$$ (Cheap)
Pressure treated pine
★★☆☆☆ Sustainable with proper forestry management. However, heavy chemicals infused to treat the wood.
★☆☆☆☆ Short term rot resistance due to chemical treatments.
★☆☆☆☆ 10 years; often less
★☆☆☆☆ Annual cleaning, sanding, sealing required.
★☆☆☆☆ Greenish appearance at first, then yellow with some grain detail.
★★☆☆☆ 2,000 MCS / 690 Janka
$ (Very cheap)
Composite decking (thermally modified wood)
★★☆☆☆ Heavy utilization of plastics, petroleum, and extreme energy use for thermal modification.
★★☆☆☆ Rot resistant due to plastic and chemical fibers, continual mold issues impact life.
★★★★☆ 20+ years
★★★★☆ No staining needed; but constant treatment for mold.
★★★☆☆ Variable, but artificial appearance; limited grain detail.
☆☆☆☆☆ 1,588 MCS / 550 Janka
$$-$$$$ (Diverse)
Custom solutions and products
Black Locust Lumber can serve all your project needs on a global scale.
