About mahogany lumber...

There are many different species and sub-species of mahogany. Colors can range from white and yellow to light and dark red. Meranti, a Philippine mahogany, comes in all colors and even has a dark red variety that looks like teak. Each Meranti color variety has its own faults and a wide range of decay resistance. It must be maintained with water repellant to protect it and keep its dimensional stability. Meranti is not as durable or dimensionally stable as real American mahogany, which comes from the West Indies, Mexico, and Central and South America. American mahogany has a beautiful, dark red appearance that will last for decades. When buying mahogany, research the wood and be sure to ask for the species name of the wood you are buying.