For most outdoor projects, naturally rot-resistant wood is a good idea. Use this table to find the right decay-resistant species for your project.
| Resistant or very resistant | Moderately resistant | Slightly or nonresistant |
|
Baldcypress (old growth)1 |
Baldcypress (young growth)3 |
Alder |
1 The southern and eastern pines and baldcypress are now largely second-growth, with a large proportion of sapwood. Consequently, it is no longer practicable to obtain substatial quantities of heartwood lumber in these species for general building purposes.
2 These species, or certain species within the groups sown, are indicated to have higher decay resistance than most of the other woods in their respective categories.
3 These woods have exceptionally high decay resistance.
Source: Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Comparative Decay Resistance of Heartwood of Native Species. U.S. Forest Service Research Note, FPL-0153. January 1967. Available at:www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrn/fplrn153.pdf.
