On 8/8/2010 9:41 AM, Steve B wrote:
I want to get some 4 x 12 beams for a pergola. I have four, IIRC, down in
Vegas, about 12 to 16 feet long, square on the ends. They are about ten to
twenty years old, and straight as day one.

Are they pine? Fir? What was used for external wood back then? If I was
to go buy some stuff today, what would I ask for? Really, I think I'll put
an ad on Craigslist for old wood, and just use stuff that is old that has
kept straight. Guides for identifying wood would be helpful.

It seems that this old wood is fairly dense (heavy). Just going to band saw
it on the ends, or carve it. I live in a dry climate with little rain, and
reasonably cold in the winter.

Steve

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I built a pergola a few years ago and used Western Red Cedar that I bought from
the local Ace Hardware lumber yard (don't know how many of _those_ are left in
the world...). Used 6x6 vertical posts, 2x12 beams (let-in to 2x10 in some
places for decoration), 2x8 rafters on 24" centers over the beams, then topped
it off with 2x4 longitudinals on 12" centers for blocking the sun. All
horizontals overhang their supporting sections and have nice "ogee" patterns
cut into the ends. Finished it with a liberal application of Behr premium
25-year weatherproofing wood "stain" (it's really paint, not stain), and there
are no signs of warping, splitting, rotting, or deterioration anywhere. I'll
report back in 5 years. :-)

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