Good Wood for Exterior Farm Buildings

Treated Wood

• Treated wood, often pine or fir, infused with chemicals that retard weathering and repel moisture and insects, is available at lumberyards. Treated wood is not the best choice for siding a farm building, because it's not attractive, but it’s beneficial for use in posts and support columns that make contact with the soil or concrete. The chemicals used to treat wood, which can include creosote and arsenic, might not be safe for structures children will use, such as playhouses.

Cypress

• Cypress lumber, harvested from bald cypress trees that grow in swampy regions, is durable and strong enough for use in structural elements of barns and outbuildings. It naturally resists water and repels wood-burrowing insects. However, it must undergo a lengthy drying process or it has a tendency to twist. The cost of cypress is relatively inexpensive if you live in an area where cypress trees grow. Long-distance shipping charges, however, will increase the cost of the wood.

Redwood and Cedar

• Redwood and cedar resist rot and insects, and they are well suited to parts of the barn that are visible, such as siding and trim. Both woods are soft and easy to work with, yet strong enough for posts and load-bearing walls. If money’s no object, redwood is a wonderful barn siding choice because of its natural reddish color. Cedar is less expensive and lasts just as long as redwood, although it has less visual appeal. Both cedar and redwood age to a soft silvery gray unless you apply a chemical sealant once or twice a year to preserve their natural color.

Care and Maintenance

• Exterior types of wood require minimal maintenance, but like all products of nature, eventually they will weather and lose their integrity. You can prolong the life of your farm buildings by spraying on a wood sealer or an occasional coat of exterior paint. You may also install sheet metal siding over the exterior of an older barn to reduce weathering, if necessary.