Which hardwoods for a pergola?

[MrYorke]

I have a retail customer that would like me to produce pergolas for them on order. Priced per metre

They want to offer their customers a more custom made/size product that steers away from the cheap and cheerful stuff you get in the sheds or off the tinterweb.

They would also like to use hard woods rather than again, cheaper soft wood.

I was thinking along the lines of idigbo and/or iroko. Perhaps sapele but didn't think it was as long lasting as the other 2.

The retail customer doesn't want to paint or stain the timber either.

Cheers in advance

Mike

 

[marcros]

it is softwood, but what about western red cedar?

 

[RogerS]

Some people have a skin allergy to iroko.

 

[MrYorke]

Of course, cedar! Great lasting properties for outside. Thanks

Yeah, I'd like to stay away from iroko as its not nice to work with. Luckily I don't react to it (on the outside) but I still worry about my insides (lungs) even when masked up.

 

[coyot]

Another option - larch... Beautiful, long lasting, weather resistant, mid-priced ...

 

[MrYorke]

Will look into larch as its not something I've used before. Thanks

 

[joiner_sim]

+1 for the cedar