- Q.I will be installing a
whirlpool tub for a customer who wants me to surround
the tub with a horizontal shelf of natural wood. The
customer has rejected my suggestion to install tile. Is
there any species of wood that would hold up in this
environment? Or should I refuse to install a wood
shelf?
A.Michael Poster, publisher
of a website for woodworkers at www.woodweb.com,
responds: In such an application, no species
of wood will hold up over time without changes in
appearance. If you perform the installation, the
customer should understand that the appearance of
the wood will change, perhaps dramatically. Even if
the customer accepts this, you must still decide
whether you want to be associated with the
work.
That said, people build boats out of wood all
the time. Wood species that are most likely to hold
up in a humid environment include teak, mahogany,
redwood, and red cedar. Maintaining a finish on the
wood will require frequent maintenance. Even with
vigilant refinishing, the wood may discolor or
develop dark stains, particularly if water is
wicked up from the end grain.