Types of Mahogany Outdoor & Indoor Decks

Decks

• True mahogany has become popular for building decks due to its high resistance to disease and decay. The University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources says true mahogany is very resistant to aging and decay problems. The department recommends untreated mahogany wood for the deck's floorboards and treated wood for joists and beams.

True Mahoganies

• True mahoganies belong to the genus Swietenia. Three species of Swietenia trees exist: Cuban mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), Honduras mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and Pacific Coast or Mexican mahogany (Swietenia humilis). All three true mahoganies are native to North America, South America and the Caribbean Islands. Cuban and Pacific Coast mahoganies yield dark brown wood, while Honduras mahogany has a light, orange-colored wood.

False Mahoganies

• African and Philippine mahoganies are among the most frequently encountered false mahoganies. As their names imply, they grow in Africa – particularly the continent's tropical regions – and the Philippines, respectively. The African mahogany tree has a light brown or orange color and is closely related to true mahoganies. Philippine mahogany – often called meranti – produces light or dark-colored wood. African mahoganies belong to the Khaya genus and Philippine mahoganies fall under the Shorea genus.

Density

• Mahogany wood is dense, making it less susceptible to cracks than other types of hardwood. Apply a layer of stain or oil treatment to your mahogany deck's boards to give them a shiny appearance. Reapply stain or treatment annually or semi-annually. Outdoor decks need more frequent attention than indoor decks. If making repairs to your deck, use stainless steel nails to punch through the density of mahogany wood.