Which types of wood are the most sustainable?

Question

We are having our fence done in the backyard, and this time I want to use sustainable wood. The only thing is, I don't know which types of wood are more sustainable than others. What I am looking for is a sort of chart like you see with types of fish that says which ones are better to eat and which are worse. That is, I'd like a list or chart that says which types of wood are on average more sustainable than others. Thanks!

Answer 1

Edwin, this is not so much an answer as it is a suggestion -- be clear as to what you mean by "sustainable". How you have your question phrased the plastic fence idea is perfectly sustainable but not environmentally sustainable or friendly. Further, type of wood alone is probably not the answer. You need to do some back research in how the wood from a particular area or forest came about and how people reforest. Spruce grows quickly but if people have ripped down a diverse forest of redwoods, pines and oak to then just replace it all with spruce farming that is not very environmentally sustainable either. Sorry to say that in life very few things have one, clear-cut, template-like answer. Find producers you would like to buy from and do some background research on them. That is probably the best way to find environmentally sustainable sources for wood.

Answer 2

why go with wood for the fence go with plastic lumber it is coloured, never needs painting, will not rot,if you want wood spruce is the cheapest and grows fast to replenish what was cut

Answer 3

I would advise to use a recycle plastic/wood pulp product like Trex brand. The boards are expensive, but made up almost entirely of recycled materials. They never need to be painted or stained and will not rot. Someone else said that after your lifetime it will just end up in a dump, I think thats better than ending up in the dump now.

Answer 4

It would be better if you could tell us what part of the country or world you live in.  Obviously, for a fence you would want a rot resistant wood, especially for posts in the ground.

This is a California website

http://sustainablehardwoods.net/hardwood...

This is a site for woodworkers, as in furniture.

http://www.sustainablewoods.net/ArtisanH...

A more general site.

http://www.sustainablewoods.net/ForestMi...

Here's another one.

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/96/wood

You can use pressure treated wood for posts of course.

Answer 5

I would advise against plastic.  You will have the use of it for your entire lifetime but what about after that?  It will either sit in a landfill or under the dirt somewhere else.  I suggest pine.  Pine grows very fast and its biodegradable.

Answer 6

Hi. I don't know the exact answer to your question, but I did want to suggest (in case you hadn't thought of it) a trip to Home Depot to ask the people there about the different things they sell. If they aren't helpful, you could try Lowes as well.