Ruth
A few folks recommended species of wood & milling specs for your  
store's porch deck. When I was faced with a similar task, I despaired  
that I couldn't get milled cottonwood (not poplar). I'm old enough to  
remember wood-floored trucks and trailers. The old guys said the  
decking was cottonwood and was common in wagon floors. I did have rhe  
good fortune of living where we had cottonwoods and a local miller. We  
had him 1/4-saw planks, then Milland plane to approx. 2 x 5 -inch  
planks-- each step preceded by cure time. We installed the planks on a  
summer kitchen floor which took a beating -- traffic, hosing, and four  
seasons of weather. I had use of it four four or five years and it  
remained in superb condition. My understanding is that cottonwood,  
properly milled and cured, is strong in all three directions, thus  
resists cupping, wowing, splitting, etc. and holds up to abrasion.  
I've been thinking about this and respectfully offer this comment.

Mary
====================
Mary Tegel
hands on impresario
architectural intern
Tegel Design + Planning
====================

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