Building an outdoor cooking table is a fun DIY project that allows you to create a customized cooking space for barbecuing, grilling, and entertaining outdoors. When designing an outdoor cooking table, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right type of wood. The wood needs to be durable enough to withstand the elements while also being food-safe for food prep and cooking. In this article, we will compare the characteristics of common wood types used for outdoor cooking tables to help you select the right wood for your project.
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Weather Resistance
Since the outdoor cooking table will be placed outside and exposed to sun, rain, snow, and temperature fluctuations, the wood needs to be weather resistant. Some factors that affect a wood’s weather resistance include:
- Hardness – Harder woods are more resistant to dents and scratches.
- Natural oils – Woods with natural oils better resist water absorption and damage.
- Grain texture – Woods with tighter grains are less porous.
Teak, ipe, cedar, and redwood are examples of woods that fair well outdoors. Their dense grains and natural oils help repel water and prevent cracking, splitting, and cupping. Softwoods like pine are more prone to water damage and rotting. Let’s compare how some common wood types hold up to outdoor conditions:
| Wood Type | Weather Resistance |
|---|---|
| Teak | Excellent – Has natural oils that protect against moisture, sunlight, and insects |
| Cedar | Very good – Contains oils that resist decay and insect damage |
| Redwood | Very good – Has natural resistance to insects, decay, and moisture |
| Ipe | Excellent – Extremely dense and naturally resistant to rot and insects |
| Cypress | Good – Holds up well outdoors with some resistance to rot and insects |
| Pine | Poor – Absorbs water easily leading to splitting, warping, and rotting |
As you can see, wood choices like teak, cedar, redwood, and ipe have exceptional weather resistance due to their density and natural oils. They can withstand years of outdoor exposure without significant deterioration. Pine is a poor choice for outdoor furniture since it absorbs water and rots quickly.
Stain and Sealant Absorption
For added protection, the outdoor cooking table wood can be treated with stains, sealants, or varnishes. The wood surface needs to readily absorb these treatments to extend the wood’s lifespan. Some factors that affect absorption include:
- Grain patterns – Woods with more open grains absorb treatments better.
- Natural oils – Woods with less oils allow better absorption.
- Surface roughness – Woods with rougher surfaces absorb more finish.
Let’s see how various wood types compare for accepting stains and sealants:
| Wood Type | Stain/Sealant Absorption |
|---|---|
| Redwood | Excellent – Very absorbent and takes stains well |
| Cedar | Very good – Accepts stains, but oils limit absorption |
| Cypress | Very good – Coarse grain helps absorption |
| Teak | Poor – Natural oils inhibit absorption |
| Ipe | Poor – Extremely dense grain resists absorption |
| Pine | Good – Softwood absorbs treatments well |
Woods like redwood and cypress readily accept stains and sealants due to their porous, open grains. Teak and ipe are difficult to stain because of their tight grains and natural oils. Proper preparation can help open the grain and improve absorption for all woods.
Cost
Budget is often a consideration when selecting wood for DIY projects. Some woods are much more expensive than others based on availability, workability, and demand. Here’s a relative price comparison of lumber for commonly used outdoor table woods:
| Wood Type | Relative Price |
|---|---|
| Pine | $$ |
| Cedar | $$$ |
| Cypress | $$$ |
| Redwood | $$$$ |
| Teak | $$$$$ |
| Ipe | $$$$$ |
Pine is the most affordable wood choice, while teak and ipe are quite expensive. Depending on your budget, you may need to choose a less exotic hardwood like cedar or cypress to keep costs down.
Workability and Maintenance
When constructing the outdoor cooking table, you’ll need to cut, drill, shape, and fasten the wood. The workability of the wood impacts how easy it is to work with. Some factors that affect workability include:
- Hardness – Very hard woods require sharper tools.
- Grain patterns – Knots and irregular grains can complicate cutting and shaping.
- Natural oils – Oily woods gum up saw blades.
- Density – Dense woods take more time and effort to work.
Here is a comparison of workability for common outdoor table wood choices:
| Wood Type | Workability |
|---|---|
| Pine | Excellent – Softwood cuts, sands, and drills easily |
| Cedar | Good – Slightly more difficult than pine but power tools cut it cleanly |
| Cypress | Good – Small knots and irregular grain can complicate shaping |
| Redwood | Fair – Dense but usually available in clear grades without knots |
| Teak | Difficult – Very hard and dense wood requires sharp tools |
| Ipe | Very difficult – Extremely hard and brittle making it challenging to cut and shape |
Pine has excellent workability, while very dense exotic hardwoods like teak and ipe are quite difficult to work with. Maintenance is also a consideration, as some woods like teak require periodic sanding and re-oiling while lower-maintenance woods will weather naturally.
Summary of Wood Characteristics
| Wood Type | Weather Resistance | Stain/Sealant Absorption | Relative Cost | Workability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine | Poor | Good | $$ | Excellent |
| Cedar | Very Good | Very Good | $$$ | Good |
| Cypress | Good | Very Good | $$$ | Good |
| Redwood | Very Good | Excellent | $$$$ | Fair |
| Teak | Excellent | Poor | $$$$$ | Difficult |
| Ipe | Excellent | Poor | $$$$$ | Very Difficult |
Conclusion
When selecting wood for an outdoor cooking table, teak and ipe are excellent choices in terms of weather resistance if you can afford them. More budget-friendly options like cedar and cypress also hold up well outdoors. Redwood is another great option that absorbs stain beautifully. Avoid using pine outside due to its lack of weather resistance. Consider the workability as well – pine cuts most easily while teak and ipe are quite challenging to work with.
Prioritize weather resistance, moisture protection, and durability when picking wood for your outdoor cooking table. With proper construction and periodic maintenance, hardwoods like teak, ipe, cedar, cypress, and redwood can all create a beautiful, long-lasting outdoor cooking space that will provide years of barbecue and grilling enjoyment.