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Pine Wood Picnic
What type of wood for outdoor furniture?
I want to build a simple outdoor picnic table and use pine (mostly 2x4) for construction because it is inexpensive. I plan to set it on my backyard lawn, so it will be exposed to moisture and sunlight. Question is, if I stain & protect it, will it last just as long as other higher quality woods like redwood and cedar? Thanks.
The pine, properly stained, sealed, and protected, should last a good long while. Especially important is to guard the footings of the table and/or benches; wherever it comes in contact with the ground, lingering moisture will tend to invade the wood. Likewise, give the table a very slight slant and enough gaps to drain quickly and easily, to avoid any standing water.
However, with equal treatments on various types of wood, pine is still not the equal of redwood or cedar. Cedar, for example, possesses a natural chemical resistance to insects and rot that makes it last considerably longer.
Given how expensive the higher-quality woods are, it might be worthwhile to make a pine table and replace it after a few years, once it starts to decay.
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