What wood for exterior windows?

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  • dkerfoot
    Veteran Member
    • Mar 2004
    • 1094
    • Holland, Michigan
    • Craftsman 21829

    #1

    What wood for exterior windows?

    I have a 90 something year old home and am on a mission to restore and make functional my old wooden windows. Mostly this means lots of stripping and some minor repairs before painting/finishing.

    I have a set of three exterior storm windows that need to be completely replaced because the wood is deteriorated beyond repair. They are roughly 18" x 24" and are never operated or removed. They serve to protect and help insulate three leaded glass windows.

    My plan is to build new windows using my rail & stile router bit set. The question is, what wood should I use? They are going to be painted, so the prime considerations are cost, durability and BORGability.

    I happen to have some cedar leftover from another project, but I fear it would splinter like mad while routing.

    Whatcha think? What would you use?
    Doug Kerfoot
    "Sacrificial fence? Aren't they all?"

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  • pelligrini
    Veteran Member
    • Apr 2007
    • 4217
    • Fort Worth, TX
    • Craftsman 21829

    #2
    I believe Marvin uses radiata pine for all of it's wood windows and doors, but they're aluminum clad on the exterior sides.
    Erik

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    • cabinetman
      Gone but not Forgotten RIP
      • Jun 2006
      • 15216
      • So. Florida
      • Delta

      #3
      In reality, if they are to be painted the species is relatively unimportant. Being BORGY is another thing. I don't know what they carry in your area. White Oak would be my first choice, but I doubt they carry that.

      They might have SYP, or Douglas Fir, either would work.
      .

      Comment

      • Mr__Bill
        Veteran Member
        • May 2007
        • 2096
        • Tacoma, WA
        • BT3000

        #4
        Most of the old wood storms that I have seen were 4/4 or 5/4 pine stock. Your choice may be limited to what you can get that is thick enough. Real Douglas Fir two-by may be the way to go and mill it to size. I would stay away from the hem-fir and mystery white wood.

        Bill

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        • dkerfoot
          Veteran Member
          • Mar 2004
          • 1094
          • Holland, Michigan
          • Craftsman 21829

          #5
          Looks like my BORGy options are:
          • Aspen
          • Red oak
          • Poplar
          • Eastern White Pine


          Douglas Fir is not available in this area.

          I am leaning towards the Poplar. Any reasons to avoid?
          Doug Kerfoot
          "Sacrificial fence? Aren't they all?"

          Smaller, Smarter Hardware Keyloggers
          "BT310" coupon code = 10% for forum members
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          • chopnhack
            Veteran Member
            • Oct 2006
            • 3779
            • Florida
            • Ryobi BT3100

            #6
            The poplar was my first choice in mind because of its smooth acceptance of paint. Others will chime in soon enough with their opinions, but I will say that since they will be painted, your primary concern, IMHO, would be machineability and surface prep prior to painting, in which poplar hands down is going to win. I would have to disagree somewhat with C-man on the pine or douglas fir since you will be sourcing them from the borg, you would have to wait a long time before they season, and even then, syp typically moves a little too much in my opinion to work well for a window frame. You can use them, but I think you have better options.
            I think in straight lines, but dream in curves

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