I’m planning to build a few outdoor chairs soon and could use some input on the best wood choice. I’m based in eastern Tennessee, where the climate can get pretty humid and wet, especially in the summer. I have access to white oak, cypress, and eastern red cedar — all rough sawn and about the same cost.
Right now, I’m leaning toward cypress or white oak, but I’m unsure which will actually hold up better over time outdoors without constant maintenance. I love the smell and look of red cedar, but I’ve heard it might not last as long structurally in exposed weather.
Also, I’ve been trying to find a good source for that colored plastic composite lumber (like the stuff used in Adirondack chairs), but everything I’ve seen so far is either too expensive or only sold in bulk. If anyone knows a reliable supplier for small-to-mid quantity orders, I’d appreciate the recommendation. If you're also refreshing your indoor setup, I recently came across this living room furniture set collection that blends comfort with clean design — worth checking out: Loveseat sofa sets .
Would love to hear what’s worked best for others when it comes to outdoor seating — especially for longevity, minimal upkeep, and comfort.
Building Outdoor Chairs – Torn Between White Oak, Cypress, or Cedar?
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Re: Building Outdoor Chairs – Torn Between White Oak, Cypress, or Cedar?
#2Sara
I can't comment specifically on the three choices of wood type but do know that both ERC and cypress are significantly softer than white oak - at least I think cypress is. You can look up those numbers (Janka hardness). I would guess WO would be denser therefore a heavier chair for the same design.
Secondly, composite lumber is significantly less stiff than real wood, at least in trim boards; Lowe's carries AZEK trim boards in a variety of sizes or at least my local store did a few years ago. That flexibility property gets even more evident in the heat. Depending on your chair design, you may need to 'beef up' some components to make up for the more flexible nature of composite boards. Also know that composite lumber can get very hot to the touch in direct sunlight - and maybe too hot to actually sit on. As a counterpoint, some type of composite lumber is commonly used for chairs at beach houses in NC, but I do not know if that is a specific composition or type of board.
Henry
Re: Building Outdoor Chairs – Torn Between White Oak, Cypress, or Cedar?
Edited #3
Welcome to WoodCentral. Following is just a web search for suppliers of HDPE near eastern TN (I am just above you in SWVA) which you may have already done. I haven't verified if the phone numbers are up to date.
Piedmont Plastics (Chattanooga): Offers HDPE sheets in various colors (e.g., green, white, grey) in 1/2” to 1” thicknesses, ideal for Adirondack chairs. Pricing is ~$5-7 per board foot, and they support custom cuts. Contact them at (423) 590-8830 or www.piedmontplastics.com to confirm stock.
Rockler Woodworking (Knoxville): Located ~30 miles from eastern Tennessee, they stock HDPE lumber in smaller quantities. Call (865) 291-8003 or visit www.rockler.com to check availability. Pricing is ~$6-8 per board foot.
84 Lumber (Knoxville or Morristown): Distributes Trex and other composite lumber in colors like grey and brown. Call the Knoxville branch (865-573-1921) to confirm small-order availability. Pricing is ~$6-8 per board foot.
Plastic Lumber Yard: An online supplier offering colored HDPE lumber (e.g., red, blue, white) in furniture-grade boards. They ship nationwide and accommodate smaller orders. Pricing is ~$7-9 per board foot. Contact: (610) 277-3900, Website: www.plasticlumberyard.com.
We have a sister site, Woodfinder, where you can search for suppliers by location, It has a wood library to view photos and descriptions of different types of wood--with links to find suppliers for each.
Re: Building Outdoor Chairs – Torn Between White Oak, Cypress, or Cedar?
#4White oak will be durable but very heavy if you're planning for Adirondack-style chairs or english garden benches. Its end grain will not wick up moisture as much as the other woods.
Flat-sawn Cypress has a tendency to delaminate along growth rings and can create large, sharp splinters.
Cedar is light but unless it's old-growth, it will have large areas of soft wood between its growth rings. These areas will become more pronounced with age.
Your main enemies are water and sun. Water damage will be minimized by avoiding direct contact between the feet of the furniture and soil. Sun damage can be reduced by use of a spar varnish with UV inhibiters.
If you plan to leave the furniture in one place, I would use white oak. If it will be moved around to accommodate different seating arrangements, either of the soft woods would be a better choice. In any case, try to keep the feet away from soil contact by using a barrier like a patio or elevated surface.
Re: Building Outdoor Chairs – Torn Between White Oak, Cypress, or Cedar?
#5Copper flashing can be used to protect the feet. Wrap around each foot and solder to make a seal. It will protect give an attractive contrast.
Re: Building Outdoor Chairs – Torn Between White Oak, Cypress, or Cedar?
#6Hi Sara,
Suggest you consider Black Locust for your chairs. Very durable for outside use. Use the "Woodfinder" link here on the homepage to find sellers in your area. Old saying is that "A Black Locust fence post will outlast 3 post holes."
Re: Building Outdoor Chairs – Torn Between White Oak, Cypress, or Cedar?
#7For rot resistance Black Locust is tops. Although I've never used it, a co-worker of mine did a project with it and found it difficult to work. The rough stock he bought was twisted and bowed and the hardness of the wood and its dulling effect on blades were "challenging," as it's called these days. At least we don't have problems anymore.
Re: Building Outdoor Chairs – Torn Between White Oak, Cypress, or Cedar?
#8I used to make chair out of Wine and Whiskey Barrels
The wood is Quarter Sawn White Oak and has a beautiful Red or Black stain with wonderful curves on your backside