Top 5 Wood Species for Outdoor Signs

Top 5 Wood Species for Outdoor Signs

I own a custom sign shop nestled in the mountains of Colorado.  One of the most common questions I get is which wood species withstands the elements the best.  Tough question for sure.  Wood, as you know, is an organic material.  Each piece of wood has it’s own, unique, characteristics.  However, each wood species also has general characteristics that can be evaluated for suitability for specific purposes.

Well, we have done the homework for you and I have put together a short list of wood species with favorable characteristics for both indoor and outdoor signs.  Of course, there are other wood species that have favorable qualities, but we have found these 5 species to have the most beneficial for our purposes.  They are in no particular order.

1.       Redwood (Janka Hardness 450 lbf)

Heartwood ranges from light brown to dark reddish brown.  Sapwood is typically pale white or with a yellowish tint.  Wood grain is generally straight, however, knots and trunks can have attractive “Redwood burl” and be wavy and atypical.  Decay resistance is rated as moderately to very durable.  Redwood machines well with power tools and hand tools but tear outs may occur in wavy or irregular grain.

The species is not on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) index but is listed on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list meaning that according to the IUCN the species is vulnerable due to a reduction in population of 40% over the past three generations.

Redwood is soft and lightweight with a decent strength-to-weight ratio and it is exceptionally stable.

2.       Mahogany (Janka Hardness 1,070 lbf)

Color is variable and ranges from pale pink to a deep, dark, reddish brown.  The grain is typically straight and stable and sometimes interlocking.  Mahogany often displays a natural luster which is enhanced by finishing.  It is rated as moderately durable with a moderate to poor rating for insect/borer resistance.  Mahogany, even though it is a harder wood, machines well.  Tear out can occur when working the wood if the grain is interlocked.

The species is not on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) index but is listed on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list meaning that according to the IUCN the species is vulnerable due to a reduction in population of 20% over the past three generations.

Pricing is considered low to moderate for an imported hardwood.

3.       Spanish Cedar (Janka Hardness 600lbf)

Heartwood color is typically light pink to reddish brown.  Color within each specimen is fairly uniform.  Grain pattern is inconspicuous.  Grain is generally straight and stable.  Spanish cedar decay resistance ranges from durable to moderately durable and is resistant to termites.  The species weathers well and develops a uniform, light gray appearance when weathered.  It machines well with both hand and power tools.  Natural gum pockets may remain wet and may ooze even after finishing.

The species is on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix III index and is listed on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list meaning that according to the IUCN the species is vulnerable due to a reduction in population of 20% over the past three generations.

Wood currently available comes from plantations of fast-growing, low-density trees.  Pricing is considered moderate for an imported species.

4.       Oak (Janka Hardness 1,220 lbf)

Heartwood is light brown with a reddish tone.  Sapwood can be difficult to differentiate from heartwood and has a similar appearance.  The grain pattern is straight, and the wood has very large pores that can be visible in the end grain.  Large pores can make the wicking of paint and stain obvious.  The wood machines fairly well and has relatively high shrinkage values resulting in mediocre dimensional stability.

This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.

Pricing is moderate for domestic hardwoods and the species is widely available.

5.       Cypress (Janka Hardness 510 lbf)

Heartwood is light with a yellowish tint and can light brown.  Sapwood is almost white prior to finishing.  Cypress has a straight grain pattern.  Rot resistance depends on the age of the harvested tree.  Old-growth trees have a durable to very durable rating while younger trees are moderately durable.  Tear out is common with Cypress unless great care is taken while machining.

This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.

Pricing is in the mid-range for domestic hardwoods and the species is widely available.  However, since the species is harvested from wet areas, pricing can be dependent on seasonal availability.

I sure hope this helps answer some questions.  A lot of this information was acquired by The Wood Database but a lot was also knowledge acquired from working extensively with many wood species.  Don't hesitate to contact me at LCI Signs with any further questions, comments, etc. or feel free to comment below.

To Whom it May Concern,
     My husband and I just received a sign that we ordered a few weeks ago in the mail.  We planned the design out, had corresponded with a few people about ideas and made multiple revisions.  We just opened up the package and are so excited with the end product.  The sign is professionally done and beautiful and we know it will be perfect addition to our lake house. Thanks for an excellent experience- we know we will be passing your name onto other admiring neighbors!
Sarah and Ian

Custom made by pressing the Copper sheet over a carved wood mandrel and hand formed to the Shape and Texture with an Oil Rubbed Patina finish.  Framed in Black Walnut and will be displayed in Paris France. I really enjoyed making this one, do not get to make many like this.

Letter from one of our Clients

Hi LCI Signs

My Mom and her new husband LOVED their sign.  I was so proud of myself because once it was delivered and it was packaged and wrapped so well, I didn't open it.  I just wrapped it for Christmas.  So, we were all surprised together when they opened it.  I thought they would put it up by the gate at the top of the driveway - but, they wanted to 'protect it' some from the elements, so they hung it by their front door THE VERY NEXT DAY!! 

She was so funny.  She posted about it on her facebook page and mentioned how they were headed to the hardware store so they could get whatever was necessary to hang it from the bricks on thier house.  Then, she put pictures on facebook.  I've attached one.  This photo was posted on Mom's Facebook page on 12/--/2011 (the next day) and it read "Here is my Christmas gift from my daughter and son-in-law, thanks Steph and JR we love the sign."

I thought it would be nice to share such a wonderful experience with you and personally wanted to thank you for making it happen.  Mom says that she doesn't believe I'll be able to top it as far as surprise gifts go.  I have to agree.  I think I will be going back to the 'gift cards' and what she usually expects on a regular basis as I don't think I could think of another gift as wonderful as this one.  LOL

Thank you so much. 

Sincerely,

Steph & family

LCI Signs a full service sign studio.

Services

LCI Signs is a full Service Sign Studio, Decorative Metal,3d Carved Wood, Routed Wooden Signs, Hand Made Home Furnishing. We create Dimensional routed, 3D carved, hand painted, sandblasted, decorative metal, signs and hand made home accents for your home, lodge, ranch , business or resort such as: Metal silhouettes, Street signs, 3-D Carved & Routed Signs and art work from your pictures, hand drawings, digital files or we can even 3D Scan, items to make metal art, wood carvings and home accents, We start with working closely with you by phone or E-mail. The designs we create are a full color model to show the details and options available. This sometimes can take a couple times back and forth with you and our Design Team to make sure every detail is work out. Depending on the item we will be making for you in our studio we will be working with hand router and CNC router or maybe even finishing the detail with hand chisels or a dermel . If its metal we are working on it maybe hand cut with a plasma cutter or a CNC plasma cutting machine all of our metal work is hand ground and finished for the desired Patina or Finish. When the decorative iron needs to be formed, hammered or twisted we will use the forge to heat the iron so that we can bend, twist, hammer or form to the desired shape or texture, it is all done by hand with hand tools and an anvil. We do try to us equipment as much as possible but sometimes there’s no better way than just good old fashioned hand work. Many of our custom work requires us to do custom patinas and finishes so we may have to make some samples and send them to you to make sure the finish is a match to the look you have in mind or to make sure it works with existing decor and furnishings. We are a small studio in the mountains of Colorado and really enjoy making personalized custom items for clients all over the United States. Our team of designers, artist and craftsman are ready to work with you in the design and fabrication or your sign and home furnishing decor. Please Check out our Custom Work page for some samples of completed work we have done for our clients.

Thanks Dave and the LCI Signs Team

Couple signs we just finished for our clients. and little bit about the woods.

About our Woods

Western Red Cedar, Mahogany and Cypress --- Mother Nature's Choice

These woods contain natural oils that act as preservatives to help the wood resist insect attack , decay and ages gracefully and endures for many years. We us only clear vertical grain Cedar and Redwood this makes for very dimensionally stable wood that does not bleed when lettering is painted and lies flat and stays straight, which means it resists the natural tendency to crack and check as you might find in many other wood. Cedar color is a light honey to a light to medium tan.

Cypress is extremely resistant to harsh weather conditions, insects and fungus. Since Cypress wood lacks sap and doesn't bleed, it takes well to sealers, stains and paints. Its color varies in shades of light to dark honey and with some knots for a nice rustic look. If left outdoors unfinished in its natural state, the appearance of the wood will become a light pewter color over time. Cypress is lightweight, scarce of knots, medium textured, and dimensionally stable with a closed straight grain, resists splitting, warping, checking, splintering and cracking.

All of our wooden signs are shipped with a penetrating clear wood sealer applied and are ready for the outdoors. I do recommend that you periodically re-apply a good quality wood sealer to your wood sign. This will help in keeping your custom sign looking new or you can let them weather to there natural beauty.

Mahogany varies from reddish or salmon colored when freshly cut, to a deep rich red, to reddish brown as the wood matures with age. Mahogany is fine to medium texture, with uniform to interlocking grain, ranging from straight to wavy or curly. Irregularities in the grain often produce highly attractive figures. Mahogany polishes to a high luster, with excellent working and finishing characteristics. It responds well to hand and machine tools, has good nailing and screwing properties, and carves well. Mahogany is regarded by many as the world's premier wood for fine cabinetry, high-class furniture, trimming fine boats, sculpture, joinery, turnery, figured and decorative veneer, interior trim, and carving.

How our carved wood signs are made

We start by talking with you by e-mail or phone to find out what you would like the sign to look like ie size, and how the sign will be used. We then take your details and start making a design proof for your approval. Sometimes we need to make a couple changes to get the sign design Exactly the way you like it. After the full color design draft is approved we start the process of making your sign.
We first make a computer pattern and file so the router can carve the artwork and lettering. Once this is done we then hand pick the wood type and the best piece of wood to match the design of the sign. The wood is then cut and planed to the sizes needed. Now the wood is ready to be routed. Once the routing is completed we start all the hand work on your custom wood sign. We first carve the border style then hand sand the wood to remove any sharp edges. Now the wood sign is ready to be painted. We start by painting the art work first then the lettering and border. When the painting is complete, we sand the sign one more time before the wood sealer is applied. Once the paint and sealer is dry we install the brass hardware and off to shipping it goes and a tracking number is emailed to you.

Thanks, Dave and the LCI Signs Team

Carved wood sign with color detailed custom artwork design for our client.

3D Carved sign designed from the clients spec's and hand painted.

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