Selecting Wood Timbers for Your Cable Railings
There is something special about using natural building products. Choosing wood for a decking project guarantees a unique end result; no two timbers are alike. The variety of colors and grain patterns are endless and the finish options are constantly improving. Here are a few good reasons to consider why wood framed cable railings may be the best choice for your next decking project.
Wood Can Be a Cost Effective Way to Construct Decks, Fences and Railings
Wood is a great value when it comes to exterior structures, especially decks. Wood is much less expensive than many composite decking products. Wood fences and railings will be much more forgiving than a product like vinyl. Synthetic products change over the years which can make a like for like repair difficult. Most wood timbers do not need to be special ordered or require any lead time to acquire. Wood framed cable railings will typically be less expensive than glass, composite or rod iron railings.
Wood is an Ideal Choice for Customization
Wood is an excellent choice for cable railings because it is available almost everywhere and it is very easy to use. Most homeowners have a selection of wood tools. Wood can be cut, sanded and fastened by novice carpenters much more easily than steel. When it comes to custom work like building railings, wood will hold it’s lines better than composite products which constantly swell and shrink. With a little imagination you can create a truly custom design by changing timber sizes and profiles.
Wood Stays Cooler
Wood does not generate or retain heat like composites (plastic) and steel. This is definitely a consideration for daytime deck usage. Lighter colored timbers will hold less heat and also weather well in hot or humid areas. Wood can be a great choice for top railing material, and can be combined with steel or synthetic post options.
Natural Beauty
With so many beautiful wood species available it’s hard to go wrong. Some of our favorite exterior wood types are Ipe’ and Cumaru which offer dark tones and tight grain patterns. For interior cable railing applications we like to use Oak and Mahogany. Oak is light in color and readily available. It can be stained almost any color to match existing floors or trim work. Mahogany is light brown to red and pink with tight grain patterns and excellent durability.
