CYPRESS WOOD
CYPRESS WOOD EXTRA INFORMATION
Wondering about one of the longest-lasting species: Cypress Wood. It is known as the “wood eternal.” It has a naturally occurring oil called cypressine that repels insects and prevents decay. Cypress is very versatile and can be used both for interiors and exteriors.
CYPRESS WOOD TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Species: Taxodium distichum.
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Other Names: Cypress, Baldcypress, Peggy cypress, pecky cypress.
Cypress Origin: United States (Louisiana, Kentucky, Delaware, Texas, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Illinois, Alabama, Oklahoma, Indiana, Virginia). Appearance: The appearance of cypress varies depending on the tree’s location. It has a light, yellow-brown color, with some boards having streaks of darker color and straight grain. Suppose the cypress was near water, such as lakes and ponds. In that case, the tree often develops” knees” along the water’s edge, making the boards more interesting. Cypress that fungi have attached has interesting wholes and spots and is called pecky cypress. Tree Size: 80-120 ft (24-37 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter. Average Dried Weight: 32 lbs/ft3 (515 kg/m3). Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .42, .51. Janka Hardness: 510 lbf (2,270 N). Modulus of Rupture: 10,600 lbf/in2 (73.1 MPa). Elastic Modulus: 1,440,000 lbf/in2 (9.93 GPa). Crushing Strength: 6,360 lbf/in2 (43.9 MPa). Shrinkage: Radial: 3.8%, Tangential: 6.2%, Volumetric: 10.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.6. |
Drying Guidelines: Cypress should be kiln-dried to 10-12 percent moisture content. The SCMA suggests equalizing the EMC in the kiln to 11 percent to dry the wettest pieces without over-drying the driest parts. This means the driest piece should be at most 11 percent MC.
The same guidelines can apply to air-drying cypress, which may take several months, depending on local weather conditions. In any case, the moisture contents outlined above should be followed to minimize concerns about splitting, warping, and other potential failures related to excess moisture.
Workability: Cypress is easy to work with, and one can glue, nail and screw to finish it. Both hand tools and machine tools can be used without a problem, but sharp cutters are recommended to avoid tear out.
Maintenance: For interior cypress, washing with mild soap, water, or wood soap is enough. It can also be buffed and polished with any wood furniture polish. More maintenance is required for exteriors, especially vertical applications such as siding and paneling, because cypress will discolor, mildew and stain.
It will continue extractive bleeding in the places where the cypress is nailed or screwed. This is due to contact with water. Black streaks will appear down from the screws or nails. Regularly brushing it off with a natural bristle brush and soap and water will prevent such stains from penetrating the wood.
Preservation: Regularly washing the cypress, mainly where it has nails and screws, will prevent black streaks from forming. A water-repellent sealer with a mildew inhibitor can also increase the lifespan of cypress.
Sustainability: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) does not list cypress in its appendices. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) lists cypress as a species of the slightest concern. Cypress overgrows on its own and does not need to be planted.
Available Sizes
From 8 -24 feet in the following dimensions:
Available in Rough, S4S, S1 S2E, Tongue and groove
Pecky Cypress
1×6, 1×8, 1×10, 1×12 (6′-18′ Random length)
*Pecky Cypress (only available in tongue and groove)
