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c/carpenters•anna578anna578•22d ago

Rant: A job in Phoenix made me stop using pine for outdoor trim.

The sun warped a whole porch's worth of it in under a year, so what's your go-to budget wood for hot climates?
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3 Comments
amy_anderson
amy_anderson22d agoMost Upvoted
My uncle in Tucson tried cypress for his shed trim and it split badly after two summers. The problem is it dries out way too fast in that dry heat. For a budget pick, I've had way better luck with good old pressure-treated pine if you seal it right. You need a solid oil-based stain, not that thin stuff from a can, and put it on thick. It's not fancy but it lasts.
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susanb34
susanb3422d ago
Actually used to think cypress was the go-to for hot climates. Then my neighbor's fence did the same thing, split all over after a dry year. Now I'm with you on the pressure-treated pine, it just needs that heavy sealer to lock in the moisture.
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gracec16
gracec1622d ago
Heard cypress holds up pretty well in the heat.
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