We suggest you start with your budget and work out from there to get an appearance you will be happy with. Ipe in general is even more hardy than Mahogany and depending on climate, can last 25 years with minimal maintenance. Some are very close in appearance to Mahogany, and other are yellowish and naturally turn grey. Ipe is another favorite, but there are at least 7 species and they have different characteristics. Prices and quality of mahogany vary considerably. Mahogany is an excellent choice for cable railing due to its ability to maintain shape under cable tension. Mahogany is a straight grained wood of reddish-brown color that maintains its shape and appearance, but it does usually require annual care. Mahogany is the most popular because of price point, durability and appearance. The most aesthetically pleasing lumber we see used is various hardwood species. If you like the aged look, it reduces maintenance requirements. There are some designer aging techniques for both species. Douglas Fir and Cedar both age well and some people like the natural aged look. Both will work very well for building a cable railing frame and both likely require annual maintenance to maintain their appearance. Pricing varies by type and Douglas Fir is usually the lower priced product. Both woods are native to the Northern US and Canada. They are more expensive and more popular in certain regions. They both have natural defense against the elements and insects. Other Softwood SpeciesĬedar and Douglas Fir are two other very popular woods used in cable railing. We never recommend PT for a top rails on our Spectrum, Latitude or other Atlantis Rail system that utilizes wood as the top rail. This is covered in our installation instructions. These requirements have to do with building the frame to ensure the railing has minimal opportunity to warp, twist or sag. There are some very specific requirements that should be followed when using a PT product as a top rail. Perceived maintenance is also a valid influence in choosing a sleeved or clad design. If wrapping or sleeving posts, do so because it provides the look you want, as the perceived savings may not be as much as it appears. The cost of these cladding materials also vary widely, and in many cases, the combined cost ends up being closer to higher end lumber. A #2 PT may work fine in this application.
Many people wrap or sleeve PT with vinyl or composite material in which case the grade of lumber is not as important. This is not an ideal product for railings as the wood will be exposed to excessive handling by people. The highest grade of treatment is “Ground Contact” which is meant to be used for pilings, building sills, and other conditions where the material is anticipated to be in contact with the ground. There are also different types of treatment and different chemicals used based on region and purpose. High quality pressure treated lumber, #1 or better, can look very nice and provide good value. For this reason, we recommend using a KD (kiln dried) product for exposed wood frames. When selecting a pressure treated lumber, keep in mind that the chemicals are not something you would want to expose people to on a consistent or saturated basis. The treatments provide protection against the elements that soft pine doesn’t have naturally. Most PT lumber is made of soft wood, usually southern yellow pine, that is relatively inexpensive compared to other species.
The most popular lumber we see used for deck railing frames is PT (pressure treated). In considering your budget, also consider the life of the wood products and the annual maintenance cost. The first consideration for most people is budget and based on the scope of the project, wood choice can present thousands of dollars in cost difference. Selecting Lumber for a Cable Railing Frame or Top RailĬable railing can be installed on a wide variety of wood products, but several considerations should be addressed in making your section.
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