Poplar trees for Porch Posts?

[cartod]

What are the downsides of using these trees as posts. They will be outside under roof but will get wet.

 

[hr3]

How Water Resistant Is Poplar Wood? | eHow

 

[jaotguy]

around here , after they reach 12 " in diameter , most start to rot from the inside out then fall over ....

not a good omen at all ...

I'd stay away and use cedar instead ...

 

[pmhowe]

Years ago, when I lived in Maryland, I had a barn with poplar siding. It got wet in the rain, and dried in the sun. It lasted for years and years. Probably was over fifty years old when I bought the place. Poplar, if continually exposed to moisture, rots fast. If you use poplar for porch posts, make sure you place them on top of metal plinths, so there is no opportunity for the posts to wick water.

 

[smstonypoint]

What are the downsides of using these trees as posts. They will be outside under roof but will get wet.

Years ago, when I lived in Maryland, I had a barn with poplar siding. It got wet in the rain, and dried in the sun. It lasted for years and years. Probably was over fifty years old when I bought the place. Poplar, if continually exposed to moisture, rots fast. If you use poplar for porch posts, make sure you place them on top of metal plinths, so there is no opportunity for the posts to wick water.

Those are yellow (tulip) poplar logs, right?

A lot of the early cabins were built using yellow poplar and survived many years, and you can buy yellow poplar log cabin kits (Grizzly Log Homes: What is Tulip Poplar? The superior log for a log home). However, the early cabins were built with old-growth timber. I have my doubts about whether the yellow poplar being used today will be as durable.

I agree that you need to insure against wicking.

I would go with cedar so as to minimize the potential for problems in the future.

Steve

 

[sixdogs]

If you have to use wood, the above two posts are correct, especially in regard to "wicking" . On a new home like that it sure would be nice to find a way to use plastic or at the very least wrap the wood post in metal or plastic to reduce the water and rot issue. We wrapped 6x6 posts with aluminum and it looks just fine with no worry about rot.

 

[CalG]

There is a poem on the topic, I allways attribute it to Frost. It goes like this:

"One rainy night, and two misty mornings

Will take down the best popple fence a man can build"

Posts?
3 year property.........at best

 

[Budweiser John]

As a builder the last 25 years or so, every encounter with popular used for exterior posts or trim was a disaster.
Popular is a great wood for interior paint grade trim but never for an exterior application. It just doesn't hold up,

 

[yomax4]

I agree, I cut and burn a lot of wood every year. Poplar included. I have noticed that it pulls in more moisture than it can wick.

 

[peterc38]

As a builder the last 25 years or so, every encounter with popular used for exterior posts or trim was a disaster.
Popular is a great wood for interior paint grade trim but never for an exterior application.

So then I take it for this purpose, Poplar is not so popular? :laughing:

 

[dieselcrawler]

Locust would be a much better choice, and readily available locally... I have hundreds of locust trees on my farm.

 

[JakeBrake]

In this part of the country yellow poplar is a valuable timber tree. It is the tallest and straightest hardwood tree in the forest.

The good thing about yellow poplar is that it does not compete with southern pine. You will see them mixed with southern pines. They grow tall, maybe 100', with no side branches, just like a southern pine. Yellow poplar is often used in furniture and other high grade applications.

Having said that, I will be using pressure treated southern pine 6X6" posts when I replace my porch posts to replace cedar posts.

 

[cartod]

Well damit. I guess that answers it. No poplar posts will go on the outside.

 

[Verticaltrx]

In different parts of the country 'Poplar' means different things, i.e. different species, which leads to a lot of confusion. Being in WV I'm assuming you have Tulip Poplar, same as we have here. In certain outdoor applications it is an excellent rot resistant wood. It has been used for hundreds of years for siding. Around here there are still some 100+ yr old barns and houses that still have the original Poplar siding, devoid of all paint years ago. If it is allowed to dry out it will hold up very well. It is not good for prolonged ground contact or areas that stay wet. Posts on a porch I'm not sure about. If you did something to the bottom I think it would be ok, maybe put it up on those little cast metal post pads. It won't last as a post in or on the ground for sure.

 

[forgeblast]

Verticaltrx I agree, poplar around here is aspen aka popples, which is related to the cottonwood. It hits the ground and rots fast.

 

[/pine]

FWIW...
Just the bark of a tulip poplar can bring $3+ per square foot...
...they make siding and shingles out of the bark...
...most of the timber is milled into interior trim moldings...cabinet makers use it for drawer boxes etc...

 

[8N Ren]

I agree, don't use it. I cut down around 80 or so pops and that type of wood starts to rot even when the tree looks healthy with nice green leaves. Ceder looks and smells fantastic, pressure treated perhaps, or maybe steel posts with those box column deals they sell.

 

[rekees4300]

Well damit. I guess that answers it. No poplar posts will go on the outside.

Not good for posts but termites wont touch it. It was used in all the log houses around here in the 1800's and many are still standing.