Extremely Rot-Resistant Wood
Mahogany – This is the king of hardwood. It is extremely dense and hard which keeps the insects and water at bay, preventing rot. Mahogany is beautiful when finished natural, which is why many doors are built with it.
Naturally decay-resistant wood subflooring (redwood, cedar, some oaks, bald cypress).
Which Wood Lasts the Longest? Teak wood easily lasts the longest when used for outdoor furniture or decking. When properly maintained, it can last for the entirety of your life and years after.
White Pine / Red Pine / Southern Yellow Pine
Not naturally resistant to rot or insects. Kiln-drying typically used to kill existing insects in wood. Requires preservative treatments to prevent future rot and insect damage. However, these treatments lose their abilities once the logs crack, opening up unprotected areas.
Oak is another hardwood species well-known for its water and rot-resistant properties. It is a popular choice for outdoor projects such as decking, fencing, and furniture due to its durability and resistance to decay. Oak wood has a high tannin content, making it naturally resistant to moisture damage.
Resistance to Rot and Decay
There are those magical natural oils in cedar that make it resistant to decay and help repel pesky bugs from taking up shop. Plus the oils make cedar smell good. Pine does not naturally resist decay, and it is pressure treated to make it more durable outdoors.
The best water resistant wood types & species. Iroko, Oak, Western Red Cedar, Cherry, Maple and heat-treated woods are just a few examples of timber that boast excellent dimensional stability and high resistance to shrinking and warping in the face of moisture.
Cedar wood projects typically last more than 20 years without splitting, rotting, or warping. White oak and teak are also long lasting woods that are resistant to decay, twisting, cracking, or warping.
Of locally available woods, Black Ironwood is typically the strongest type of wood you can find in America. It's found in Florida and has a 3,660 lbf (16,280 N) Janka rating. Other strong North American woods include species of hickory, maples, oaks, walnuts, and beeches.
Some species of wood are naturally rot resistant due to complex chemical compounds that they evolved to protect themselves against decay. Well-known domestic examples include cedar, redwood, old-growth cypress, mulberry, yew, osage orange, and black locust.
That said, its natural oils also make it susceptible to excessive moisture and other environmental threats. Combined with its porous nature, this makes cedar homes especially vulnerable to harmful mold spores.
How to kill the fungus that causes wood rot. Boric acid (borate) is one of the most effective fungicides for use in treating wood rot. It can be applied to wood during construction to prevent future rot, or as a treatment to stop an active decay fungus from growing.
Cedar is rot resistant.
This can vary with each species, but on the whole, the wood of most cedar species are considered at least moderately durable in terms of rot resistance, and are frequently used for exterior applications.
For example, Teak doesn't need any treatment which prolongs its lifespan because it is naturally durable and doesn't have much movement whereas kiln dried Oak does need treating to prevent it from: Losing moisture and shrinking in the summer.
Naturally Resistant
To deter the pests, homeowners can obtain heartwood-grade lumber for construction projects. Termites also tend to avoid specific species of trees such as redwoods, yellow cedar, Laotian teak, and cypress. However, these types of wood are not as long-lasting as treated lumber.
Heirloom-quality handmade wood furniture should last more than a lifetime. In fact, it can last for decades if properly maintained. This type of wood furniture is more likely to reach the “antique” milestone, meaning it can last 100 years or more.
Western Red Cedar is one of the world's most durable woods, as it has a natural resistance to moisture, decay and insect damage.
Characteristics of Redwood and Cedar
When you're looking for the best wood for outdoor use, both of these types of wood are naturally resistant to rot and decay, along with being termite and insect-resistant. Redwood and cedar are also known to: Resist warping and twisting.
Red oak does not have the level of decay and rot resistance that white oak possesses. Workability: Produces good results with hand and machine tools. Has moderately high shrinkage values, resulting in mediocre dimensional stability, especially in flatsawn boards.
When it comes to comparing treated wood vs. cedar, pressure-treated wood is the sturdier and more weather-proof of the two. It's highly resistant to insect attack and rot, and special versions rated for “ground contact” can be buried in soil and will continue to shrug off decay for decades.
If you're looking to make a lengthy investment, consider the fact that cedar fences will stand, with no maintenance, for up to 25 years. Meanwhile, pressure treated pine last up to 15 years, provided you are regularly maintaining it.