Locust for decking and exterior trim
I was just reading through the discussion on alternatives to pressure treated decking. i have installed a couple decks recently made from Black Locust. Its available local here in the North East (Western Mass). i beleive its considered an invasive species to some so the tree workers are the guys we got it from. Its incredibly dense and and as such heavy as well. It’s Supposed to last a long time though and can also be buried directly as for fence posts. I am curious if anyone else has thoughts or experience with the locust. i don’t really here much mention of it around. We’ve also used it for exterior trim details. Planed and sanded up but with no finish applied it turned a rich orange that compliments its tiger stripe grain pattern. Its been up for just over a year now, verticle surfaces are still looking great, horitontal surfaces like sill of windows have greyed and cracked open. Initially HO didn’t want to seal it, but now is reconsidering. Any suggestions?
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I have a large black locust tree directly in front and overhanging my house. Messy things with their long pods and all, but I love it.
I say, why not? The stuff is heavy, hard and hell on blades as I have cut down a few locust trees but never thought of using them for anything other than firewood . It is one of staple woods for fenceposts and yes, it's very rot and bug resistant.
Isn't it hard to work with though? And I would think it would move a lot and not have the stability of mahogany or redwood. It seemed to carry a lot of tension inside the grain when I would split it, thus the cracking.
Yes, I would seal it now that it has had a chance to weather and settle.
Black locust here is considered second only to our local cedar (heartwood) for fence posts. Never seen it offered as lumber, but I've sawn and used a lot. Like any wood, it'll weather when exposed to the elements.
The shutters, hand rails, and pickets I've made were all painted. These were for historic houses where unfinished wood would have been inappropriate. I used it rather than pay for recycled heart pine, the traditional favorite. Also much nicer to work.
Put a black locust operator platform (unfinished) on my towed road grader 15 yrs ago, always outside. Slight checking like your sills, no other degradation. I don't expect to ever replace it.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!