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Fixing A Patio Slider
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 4:42 pm
by algale
One of the sliding patio doors has got some bad rot on the lower rail and one stile. Here's a photo of the rail.
[ATTACH]22684[/ATTACH]
I intend to make a replacement. The wood species of the original is unknown and since it is painted I don't feel a need to match it. What would be a good species to use for the replacement part I will be making?
Thanks,
Al
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 5:26 pm
by beeg
How about treated lumber or redwood.
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 5:31 pm
by algale
Redwood has good rot resistance, so might be a good choice. Thanks for the suggestion. I don't want to work with treated lumber.
Al
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 6:48 pm
by JPG
Western cedar.(straight grained)
White oak.(stronger)
Both are more lilely available in the thickness you will need(5/4?)
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 6:54 pm
by dgale
The problem with most redwood you can buy these days is the second growth (and third growth) doesn't begin to have the rot resistance and longevity of the stuff that was available 25+ years ago. On top of that, redwood is soft, so may want to consider the potential abuse level is (ie is it in a location that will be kicked by feet, banged by the vacuum cleaner etc.) - if so, you may want something more dense.
Out in my neck of the woods (redwood country), I can readily find salvaged old growth redwood for such a project but I'm guessing the redwood that makes it out to the East Coast these days isn't like the good old days. Perhaps with enough coats of primer and paint it doesn't matter anyways, but worth considering.
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:11 pm
by billmayo
For small jobs that are in areas subject to weather that can rot the wood, I have been using Shop Trex or ChoiceDek composite decking planks from Lowes. Not cheap but with a 25 yr warranty for what it is worth. I even glue them together if thicker material is needed.
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:43 pm
by drl
I'd go with the white oak. Very hard and strong.
Dwight
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 7:46 pm
by charlese
Don't know that redwood would take paint to your specs. Best wood listed so far is white oak.
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 8:28 pm
by jimthej
I would go with the best available. I found an article about it here.
http://www.garden.org/articles/articles ... 977&page=1
As important, I think would be an investigation of ways to keep water off that door.
Have fun!
Posted: Tue Sep 10, 2013 9:10 pm
by Ed in Tampa
I know what Norm and Tom Silva would use.
PVC wood. In fact on one of their shows that aired not to long ago that is exactly what they did is replaced the lower edge of a door with PVC which they glued up to the right thickness and milled down to the right profiles and reveals.
If it were me and the area was exposed to weather I would use PVC. Fix it once and be done with it.