slat wall - best material to use

[alpsy]

hi all,

we want to do a slat wall using approx 40mm wide * 20mm deep slats of wood up to 3mts high spaced 15-20mm apart.

application is outdoor and ideally we want a jarra colour though we can stain it.

can someone please advise whats the best wood to use for this type of application?

cheers,


julie

[scooter]

Gday Julie, not sure what timbers you have available up there compared to here in Vic, I work at Bunnings & we sell a size of merbau (a mid brownish timber) that would be suitable for your project.

Maybe go and have a sticky at a few timber yards, and see what's around. Look for decking or other outdoor timbers that will be durable for your use.


Cheers.....................Sean

[alpsy]

Thanks Sean,

Is merbau a really smooth wood? Would like a straight, smooth wood if possible?

Julie

[alpsy]

What do you think of these options? Do you prefer option 1 over 2 or neither of them? i just want to clean up that wall a little and hide my low voltage transformer lights behind it. Does the structure look too heavy?

Any other suggestions?

Thinking of using hardwood (42mm*19mm)

Cheers,

Julie

[jimj]

I think from studying your photos that you want to cover the wall to the left of the photos. It also appears that there is some lovely masonary bricks and pavers in the area that you want to work in. Please give some serious consideration to the type of timber that you use. Merbau-Kwila is a very durable timber for exterior but it's capacity to leach-bleed dark blood red tannins is unbelievable. If this stain gets on to your concrete it can be a monumental hassle to get out. Please do an archive search and you will see many others have discovered this the hardway. If you do decide to use merbau perhaps it would be better to clean and coat it before fixing. This is a lot of work. Personally I would steer clean of Merbau. Just food for thought.

regards,

Jim J www.restore-a-deck.com.au

[scooter]

Very good point, Jim.

Julie, see what other outdoor timbers are available.

Even Sydney Bluegum could be an option, other Sydneysiders care to comment?

[alpsy]

thanks for comments so far

i went to bunnings and saw merbau and hardwood (whiter smoother finish) and was looking to go with the latter variety and stain it in a jarrah finish as we have jarrah floorboards inside. perhaps i need to research this further.

btw, option 1 and 2 have been photoshopped in case anyone was thinking they were real

is this wooden slatwall my best option or are there other solutions. as you can see from the space we are open to very contemporary out of the square ideas.

just need to finish this wall so that that we can get on with doing the pond beneath it and finishing our courtyard.

cheers,

julie

ps: let me know if it would help if i took a picture of the whole area (its still a bit of a mess but it might present a better idea)? essentially its polished concrete floors, rendered wall with stone wall over pond and bluestone tiles around pond.