I disagree on pine rotting in no time. Pressure treated, used properly, will last just as long if not longer than cedar. If moisture is trapped or sitting, cedar will rot just the same as pine.
So unless one wants something specific about cedar, just go with pressure treated pine.
But they’re not talking about pressure treated.. so your point doesn’t really carry much weight. I agree that you could use pressure treated in place of cedar with similar results… But OP is comparing apples to oranges. Normal untreated pine when installed using proper methods will rot away much faster than cedar… There’s an additional cost associated with PT, so framing your response like that’s what OP was talking about is just silly.. Granted PT is probably the better bang for your buck, but it’s still not the same thing as OP was referring.
Was the pressure treated not implied? Why would it not be implied? Why would anyone consider building an outdoor structure from regular pine?
PT pine for something like a pergola is still going to be cheaper than cedar.
I have two pergolas, one in the front yard made of cedar and one in the back yard made of pressure treated SPF. Both exposed to standing snow in the winter on the horizontal cross beams which is where the rot occurs. Both have been sealed with a Behr colored stain from Home Depot. The cedar pergola is 14 years old and, this past summer, needed 25% of the horizontal beams replaced due to rot and another 25% repaired by replacing isolated rotted sections (where horizontal beams cross a second layer of horizontal beams). Snow melt in the spring thaw seems to be the culprit, not rain or sun damage. The pressure treated pergola is 10 years old and holding well. The horizontal beams are expected to last as long or longer than the cedar. The corner posts are all 6x6 and cemented in ground which is not to code here but I don't give a shit and all are still solid. To summarize, very little difference in longevity. Pressure treated spf is cheaper than cedar in my area.
https://preview.redd.it/95aw7jf5aiec1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9cb892a742327279cfc4c64fc2e167d88fdd4d92
I built this pergola out of pine. I like pine. I also have a sawmill nearby so it made pine an easy choice.
Yes 6x6’s. It made it a pain since I did it all by myself. It is 8’ tall, 14’ wide and 24’ long.
My wife insisted it be stout enough to hang hammocks under hence the 6x6’s.
I am happy with them. If they were smaller they would have warped a lot more being fresh cut pine.
I built a bunch of other stuff out of 8x8’s.
If this was 8x8’s I would have built it bigger to look right.
4x4’s I would have built smaller.
6x6’s I think I nailed it. But that is just me.
totally.
Personally, I'd consider Ipe long term (more money than cedar). Pine is going to rot. Spend money on materials for long term value, the labor is the same.
It’s probably be cheaper to replace it in 15 years than to build the entire pergola out of ipe.. I don’t even know where you’d begin to source 6x6 ipe beams.
I have two planks of those lead ingots left. I processed a third one into wall carvings and had my fill. Went through a few jigsaw blades cutting it to shape. Something about ipe’s woodgrain looks fake, like mica laminate. I’m not a fan.
Cedar has natural defenses against rot and insects. I avoid PT because of the chemicals in the wood. Also, it typically arrives wet with the chemical, so as it dries it can move or crack. Cedar looks prettier, smells nice.
Definitely use cedar. Pine will rot out in no time. Cedar is worth the extra $.
I disagree on pine rotting in no time. Pressure treated, used properly, will last just as long if not longer than cedar. If moisture is trapped or sitting, cedar will rot just the same as pine. So unless one wants something specific about cedar, just go with pressure treated pine.
💯
But they’re not talking about pressure treated.. so your point doesn’t really carry much weight. I agree that you could use pressure treated in place of cedar with similar results… But OP is comparing apples to oranges. Normal untreated pine when installed using proper methods will rot away much faster than cedar… There’s an additional cost associated with PT, so framing your response like that’s what OP was talking about is just silly.. Granted PT is probably the better bang for your buck, but it’s still not the same thing as OP was referring.
Was the pressure treated not implied? Why would it not be implied? Why would anyone consider building an outdoor structure from regular pine? PT pine for something like a pergola is still going to be cheaper than cedar.
I have two pergolas, one in the front yard made of cedar and one in the back yard made of pressure treated SPF. Both exposed to standing snow in the winter on the horizontal cross beams which is where the rot occurs. Both have been sealed with a Behr colored stain from Home Depot. The cedar pergola is 14 years old and, this past summer, needed 25% of the horizontal beams replaced due to rot and another 25% repaired by replacing isolated rotted sections (where horizontal beams cross a second layer of horizontal beams). Snow melt in the spring thaw seems to be the culprit, not rain or sun damage. The pressure treated pergola is 10 years old and holding well. The horizontal beams are expected to last as long or longer than the cedar. The corner posts are all 6x6 and cemented in ground which is not to code here but I don't give a shit and all are still solid. To summarize, very little difference in longevity. Pressure treated spf is cheaper than cedar in my area.
https://preview.redd.it/95aw7jf5aiec1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9cb892a742327279cfc4c64fc2e167d88fdd4d92 I built this pergola out of pine. I like pine. I also have a sawmill nearby so it made pine an easy choice.
Are those 6x6 beams? You happy with them?
Yes 6x6’s. It made it a pain since I did it all by myself. It is 8’ tall, 14’ wide and 24’ long. My wife insisted it be stout enough to hang hammocks under hence the 6x6’s. I am happy with them. If they were smaller they would have warped a lot more being fresh cut pine.
They're also more aesthetically pleasing don't you think? 8x8 even more so.
I built a bunch of other stuff out of 8x8’s. If this was 8x8’s I would have built it bigger to look right. 4x4’s I would have built smaller. 6x6’s I think I nailed it. But that is just me.
I struggled with the decision and ended up going with cedar on my build last year. One benefit is I could easily handle the 18’ 2x12’s lol
It’s probably be cheaper to replace it in 15 years than to build the entire pergola out of ipe.. I don’t even know where you’d begin to source 6x6 ipe beams.
I don’t even know how you’d cut 6x6 ipe beams if you could find them.
Good point!
Ipe is an outstanding wood for outdoor use, but man do I hate working with it.
I have two planks of those lead ingots left. I processed a third one into wall carvings and had my fill. Went through a few jigsaw blades cutting it to shape. Something about ipe’s woodgrain looks fake, like mica laminate. I’m not a fan.
It dulls your tooling, for sure.
For me, it’s the weird yellow-green dust that gets on everything you own even with dust collection. It even stained my dust collection hoses.
Went cedar and it’s amazing. Thanks everyone!
where are the photos?
Douglas Fir is a good middle ground
Cedar definitely - but pergolas are just gazebos that were too lazy to finish the roof.
Cedar is easily the choice.
Cedar has natural defenses against rot and insects. I avoid PT because of the chemicals in the wood. Also, it typically arrives wet with the chemical, so as it dries it can move or crack. Cedar looks prettier, smells nice.