Wood for Outdoor Projects

Wood for Outdoor Projects in Los Angeles

Outdoor wood has to do a job that interior lumber never sees. Sun, rain, sprinklers, salt air off the Pacific, dramatic day-to-night temperature swings, foot traffic, and the slow grind of UV exposure all work on every board the moment it goes outside. The species you choose, the way it is milled, and how it is finished determine whether a deck, pergola, or fence still looks right in five years or ten. At House of Hardwood, we supply and mill wood for outdoor projects across Los Angeles, with the species, grades, and dimensions that hold up to Southern California conditions.

We have been operating out of our Wellesley Avenue yard since 1947, and exterior lumber is a core part of what we do. Whether you are building a deck, framing a pergola, milling custom siding, or building an outdoor kitchen, our team can spec the right species and dimension for the project.

What Outdoor Wood Has to Do

The species that survive outdoor exposure share a few traits: dense heartwood, naturally occurring oils or extractives that resist rot and insects, dimensional stability under wet-dry cycling, and enough hardness to handle whatever the project demands. Pressure-treated softwood will work for hidden structural framing, but for any wood that shows or gets touched, naturally durable hardwoods and select softwoods are the right call.

Beyond durability, look matters. Ipe and teak weather to a soft silver gray if left unfinished. Cedar takes on a driftwood patina. Redwood holds warmth longer than most species. Knowing how a wood will age informs whether you commit to seasonal oil maintenance or accept the gray and let the project move with the seasons.

Species We Stock for Outdoor Use

A few of the species we keep moving through the yard for outdoor work:

• Ipe - The benchmark for premium decking. Extremely dense, naturally rot and insect resistant, Class A fire-rated, and capable of lasting decades with little maintenance. Used for decks, docks, rooftop pavers, commercial walkways, and exterior siding where longevity is the priority.
• Teak - Naturally oily, dimensionally stable, and one of the most rot-resistant species available. The traditional choice for marine applications, outdoor furniture, and exterior trim.
• Spanish Cedar - Aromatic, stable, and naturally insect-repellent. A strong option for exterior trim, soffit, fascia, and millwork that needs to handle weather without the density of ipe or teak.
• Vertical Grain Cedar - Western red cedar in tight vertical grain cuts. Lightweight, stable, and naturally rot-resistant. Common for siding, fencing, soffit, and decorative exterior trim.
• Old Growth Douglas Fir - Tight vertical grain, structural strength, and a warm amber color. Used for exposed beams, pergola framing, post-and-beam structures, and exterior timber framing where strength and look both matter.
• Clear A Redwood - Naturally rot-resistant with warm reddish tones. Suited to decking, fencing, and garden structures, particularly for projects that want the classic California look.
• Mahogany and Sapele - Stable and durable for exterior doors, gates, window frames, and architectural millwork. Sapele in particular handles exterior exposure well when properly finished.
• Jatoba - Extremely hard and naturally durable. Used for high-traffic decking, stair treads, and exterior applications where density matters.

If you have a species in mind that we don’t have on the rack, we can usually source it on a short turnaround.

Common Outdoor Projects We Supply

Our outdoor lumber and milling work covers the full range of exterior projects:

• Decks and deck boards in ipe, teak, jatoba, or cedar
• Pergolas, arbors, and trellises in Douglas fir, redwood, or cedar
• Custom outdoor siding in cedar, ipe, sapele, or Spanish cedar
• Fence boards, gates, and privacy screens
• Outdoor kitchen and bar surfaces in ipe, teak, or Spanish cedar
• Patio furniture and bench stock in teak, ipe, or mahogany
• Garden planters and box surrounds
• Exterior doors, jambs, and trim in mahogany or sapele
• Sauna and outdoor shower wood in cedar or Spanish cedar
• Rooftop deck systems for commercial and residential

For projects requiring specific dimensions, profiles, or thicknesses, our shop can mill to your spec on stock we carry or stock we source.

Maintenance, Aging, and Finishes

How you finish outdoor wood determines how it looks over time. The two paths:

• Maintain with oil - Periodic application of a penetrating oil (Penofin, Messmer’s, Cutek, similar) keeps the original color and slows graying. Most oiled exterior wood needs reapplication every one to two years in LA sun. Suits projects where the warm tone of the wood is part of the design.
• Let it gray - Unfinished ipe, teak, and cedar weather to a silver-gray patina over six to twelve months. No ongoing maintenance is required beyond occasional cleaning. The gray is structural; the wood underneath is unchanged.

For exterior doors, siding, and trim that need a film finish, marine-grade varnishes and spar urethanes hold up better than interior products. Your finisher will guide the specific product based on exposure.

Sustainability and Sourcing

Tropical hardwood sourcing matters. We carry FSC certified stock in select species and can source additional certified material for projects with green building requirements, LEED scorecards, or client sustainability commitments. Domestic species (cedar, Douglas fir, redwood) are widely available with strong chain-of-custody documentation. Imported species are sourced through suppliers we have worked with for years.

If your project requires certified material, raise it early in the conversation. Certified inventory across the industry is more limited than conventional stock, so lead times can vary by species and volume.

Custom Milling for Outdoor Applications

Outdoor projects often need custom profiles that off-the-shelf decking and siding cannot deliver. Our shop mills:

• Tongue and groove for siding and soffit
• Shiplap, channel, and reveal profiles
• Custom deck board widths and edge profiles
• Pergola beams and posts in oversized dimensions
• Bench seats, planter caps, and stair treads
• Architectural exterior trim and reveal stops

Send us your detail drawings or a sample of the profile you need and we will mill to match. See our custom wood components for architects for more on how we work from technical drawings.

Who We Supply

We work with deck builders, landscape architects, custom home builders, remodel contractors, commercial GCs, designers, marine contractors, and homeowners. We have supplied ipe, teak, cedar, and Douglas fir for hillside decks, beach-house remodels, rooftop bars, restaurant patios, and backyard pergolas across Los Angeles.

We do not handle on-site installation, but we coordinate closely with your contractor on dimensions, milling specs, and delivery.