exterior wood - what's best ?

1779 Views 16 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Canarywood1, Dec 21, 2015

stadry

Discussion Starter · Dec 17, 2015

we have a client who wants to put a piece of walnut plywood w/veneered edges protected by 4 coats of polyurethane on top of their mailbox,,, i'm no woodie but i think that's horsepuckey after exposure to the weather even here in atlanta & have recommended against it.

what's the best wood to use IF i can't talk them out of it ? apitong ? teak ? this is a condo so no one's going to take any personal interest other than ***** to the property manager who'll then call me

thanks in adv, guys !

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

bmathews

· #2 · Dec 17, 2015

If you want really durable, miratec or Azek.

Otherwise maybe stained cedar.

Reactions: 1

joecaption

· #3 · Dec 17, 2015

Teak and teak oil would hold up forever and only need to be reoiled every few years.
Far easier then having to sand off the peeling Poly.

stadry

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 17, 2015

thanks, joe - thought teak as its used on higher end boats,,, already call'd on azek as we're using it instead of hard-plank

Millertyme

· #5 · Dec 17, 2015

Teak, cedar and sapele or mahogany work well. Use that plywood and they will be wasting their money. Only way it might work is if you cover it with epoxy.

joed

· #6 · Dec 17, 2015

Real wood or at least plywood rated for boat building or it is just going to fall apart when it gets wet. It doesn't matter how many coats of poly you put on it. Water will get to it.

ron45

· #7 · Dec 17, 2015

This maybe as good as it gets....

Straight over wood..

Staining first..

ront02769

· #8 · Dec 18, 2015

For me it would be teak or ipe....but that is because it is what I have easiest access to. Ron

Reactions: 1

stadry

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 18, 2015

no epoxy's good for outside - could use polyaspartic or polyurea tho,,, this is what happens when the condo's filled w/old people who are tired of watching oprah reruns - they're all xpurts :wink2:

Reactions: 1

Millertyme

· #10 · Dec 18, 2015

West systems is

123pugsy

· #11 · Dec 18, 2015

Simulated wood tiles.

stadry

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 18, 2015

have used west on my boats but its always covered w/something as a final coat,,, no idea IF it can stand alone uncovered,,, have to check but thanks nevertheless

throrope

· #13 · Dec 19, 2015

Forget the urethane. I used tongue and grove mahogany on a south facing covered porch with exterior rated polyurethane. Sun ate it alive. Peeled off like sun burnt skin on a ten year old. Left me with a refining job. I suggest an oil finish.

Mingledtrash

· #14 · Dec 20, 2015

joecaption said:
Teak and teak oil would hold up forever and only need to be reoiled every few years.
Far easier then having to sand off the peeling Poly.

I cannot agree more . i recommend thompson
http://www.thompsonswaterseal.com/home

carpdad

· #15 · Dec 21, 2015

If this is to rain cap the box, I would use copper base then designed strips of wood than a solid piece. Redwood looks good and is weather resistant. I would look to recoating (as suggested but probably every year) with oil and uv inhibitor mixed in. Search craftsman style for ideas and put together with brass screws.

Gymschu

· #16 · Dec 21, 2015

Mingledtrash said:
I cannot agree more . i recommend thompson
http://www.thompsonswaterseal.com/home

-1 on Thompson's Water Seal which is the cheapest and worst of all the clear coatings for wood. You'll be re-coating every 3 or 4 months with Thompson's.

Reactions: 1

Canarywood1

· #17 · Dec 21, 2015

I agree with joe on Teak and oil, carrier and sub decks used that combination at one time, if it was good enough for them it would be good enough for me.

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

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