Thread: What is the best timber to use for external french doors

Aluminium.

Well, actually, Aluminium on the outside, and your choice of timber on the inside. Seeing as you want a painted exterior surface, I'd skip any sort of high maintenance item outside. If you cop any sort of wind, make sure the doors are specified with excellent weathersealing. We 'allowed' our architect to specify some french doors (3 pairs) about 5 years ago, and we have regretted not informing ourselves ever since.

woodbe.

Thanks Woodbe
Unfortunately my wife does not want aluminium on the exterior of the door for aesthetic reasons.

Any suggestion on timbers?

Red

G'ay Red,

Vic Ash would be a good strong, economical option for you. It has been widely used for external doors and windows and is widely available. I sell it but there are plenty of others that sell it also. It would be well worth considering.

Cheers,

Mark

I would be inclined to go for WRC (Western Red Cedar). This is used extensively in joinery, both windows and doors. It has attractive grain, good exterior durability and stability and is easy to work with. If it has a downside, it is that is imported and not Australian, against that most of it is plantation grown, if that is important to you.
I would certainly prefer it over Merbau, but then I don't normally take much notice of what architects say about timber and finishing/painting!

Kwila/merbau are prety durable outdoor timbers and a lot of the joinery dudes are used to using it.
With a lot of this comodity building industry stuff its helpfull to know what particular contractors are commonly using in your area.
This will be reflected in the price.
If a company buys kwila by the bucket load they will tend to want to work in it and they should be more price competitive on that material.
If they have to buy in a specific spicies that they don't usualy use things may be different.
Kwila istn bad stuff except it is prone to bleed if it gets wet, but so do a lot of dark hardwoods.

cheers