| You have purchased a set of picnic table plans. Now, | | | | patio furniture in Douglas will maintain the look. |
| what lumber do you construct it in? | | | | Redwood |
| Have a look at the outdoor furniture that you have | | | | There is something about Redwood that stirs an |
| at the moment. What is the deck constructed of? | | | | emotional response. Quality landscape architecture |
| What is your house constructed of? Do you want to | | | | requires building materials that are beautiful and |
| have the same theme on your patio? It looks | | | | long-lasting. Materials need to withstand environmental |
| fantastic if you have a cedar house for instance to | | | | elements yet retain their symmetry and aesthetic |
| have cedar decks and cedar outdoor furniture. | | | | purpose. Redwood is amongst the best. |
| You can use whatever you like. You may have some | | | | Redwood has qualities not found in other woods. |
| exotic imported lumber that you would like to use. All | | | | Redwood performance characteristics include |
| you need to do is check it out with a specialist in | | | | resistance to shrinking, warping and checking in |
| timber varieties to see if it is going to be strong | | | | addition to durability. This means redwood projects |
| enough and that it is not going to split, warp, shrink | | | | age beautifully. Decks, fences shelters and outdoor |
| or rot. | | | | furniture made with redwood simply look better ten, |
| The following are some of the most common types | | | | fifteen and twenty years after construction. |
| of lumber you could use for your table. | | | | Redwood heartwood has grown-in resistance to |
| Ponderosa Pine | | | | decay and insects Even the wood exposed through |
| This is one of the most common timbers to be used | | | | sawing, boring or nailing is as decay-resistant as the |
| in the construction industry in the States. It is also | | | | surface. |
| known as Western Yellow Pine, British Columbian | | | | Cedar |
| Soft Pine, Californian Soft Pine and Bull Pine. Its | | | | The common cedar in North America is the Western |
| primary growth areas are western States and | | | | Red Cedar or British Columbia Cedar. It is another |
| Western Canada. | | | | softwood which when left exposed becomes a silver |
| It is a soft wood that is very easy to work with and | | | | grey. It seasons with little shrinkage and is extremely |
| has a huge number of uses including framing, panelling | | | | stable under changes in moisture content. |
| and furniture. Cabinetmakers and woodworkers | | | | It has exceptional resistance to decay and is very |
| appreciate the wood's uniform cell structure, scarcity | | | | light making it great for boat building. It is also great |
| of resin pockets, and resistance to splitting. Finished | | | | for weatherboards, outdoor furniture, decking, |
| parts fit together snugly without binding. The lumber | | | | fencing, spa pools and saunas. |
| is easy to work with either hand or machine tools | | | | Teak |
| and converts readily into fine mouldings and cabinet | | | | Teak is a tropical hardwood tree native to the south |
| work. | | | | and southeast of Asia, and is commonly found as a |
| Ponderosa Pine can be treated for above-ground or | | | | component of monsoon forest vegetation. They are |
| in-ground contact. The waterborne preservatives | | | | large trees, growing to 30-40 m tall, deciduous in the |
| leave a clean, dry, odorless surface ready to be | | | | dry season. Much of the world's teak is exported by |
| painted or stained. It is readily and widely available. | | | | Indonesia and Myanmar. |
| Treated Ponderosa Pine is used for fences, planters, | | | | It is one of the most valuable of all hardwoods |
| storage sheds, play structures, decking, deck railings, | | | | because of its outstanding properties. It is durable, |
| benches and other outdoor projects like picnic tables. | | | | strong, stable and resistant to moisture fire and |
| Douglas Fir | | | | decay. |
| Also known as Oregon Pine, British Columbian Pine or | | | | The timber is used in the manufacture of outdoor |
| Red Fir. Douglas Fir is North America's most plentiful | | | | furniture, boat decks, and other articles where |
| softwood species, accounting for one fifth of the | | | | weather resistance is desired. It is also used for |
| continent's total softwood reserves. Its | | | | indoor flooring and as a veneer for indoor furnishings. |
| characteristics are dense, hard, stiff, durable and | | | | Oak |
| strong although it can tend to split when nailing close | | | | The Oak has a huge number of different species and |
| the the ends. | | | | is found in many countries around the world. The |
| For versatility and beauty, few woods in the world | | | | common one in North America is the American White |
| match the magnificence of Douglas Fir. | | | | Oak. It is a hardwood and a slow grower. The wood |
| It has a variety of uses. It is not only used widely | | | | is strong, stiff, hard and resistant to abrasion, shock |
| for structural framing but also joists, planks, large | | | | loads and decay. It is used for flooring, doors, |
| beams, decking, posts and interior and exterior | | | | furniture, panelling and wine barrels. |
| finishes. It is used as furniture, indoor and outdoor | | | | At the end of the day the choice is yours. Treated |
| including picnic tables, It is also used in bridges and | | | | Pine will be the most readily available and probably |
| sleepers for railway tracks. It is usually pressure | | | | the most cost effective and look great. On the other |
| treated for underground or water use. If you have | | | | hand a Teak picnic table on a Teak deck would be |
| Douglas Fir decks and or Douglas Fir exterior, then | | | | spectacular. |