At Good Millwork, we talk a lot about how cypress in general, and deadhead sinker cypress in particular, is rot resistant. Since cypress grows in swamps, it has to be able to withstand being in water or it will die. It makes sense that the cypress tree has developed some way to keep from rotting.
According to Scheffer and Morell (1998), rot resistance is caused by the production of compounds when the sapwood dies and becomes heartwood. These compounds have an anti-fungal property that protects the heartwood from decay. Sapwood is not resistant to decay, but it is also not used in building.
According to the US Forest Service publication Wood as a Building Material, old growth cypress is one of the most resistant to decay woods known. They do point out, of course, that old growth cypress is practically unavailable. Second growth cypress is only moderately resistant to decay, they say.
Fortunately for our customers, we have access to some of that scarce old growth cypress. Deadhead sinker cypress lay at the bottom of rivers and canals for 150 or more years before being salvaged. We can cut just about any molding profile in deadhead sinker cypress. If you are interested in a rot resistant wood, give us a call!
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the report of US Forest Service really impressed me alot