The cypress sapwood is very light in color and accounts for a small portion of the tree. Bald cypress heartwood varies from a pale yellow-brown to a dark reddish-brown, sometimes looking almost black. A rule of thumb, according to some, is that the deeper color the heartwood, the more decay resistant the wood. Cypress wood is very durable, stable, and water and rot-resistant, making it suitable for building and heavy construction. Exterior applications for cypress include boats, doors, shutters, siding and sashes, while interior applications include trim, architectural woodwork, doors and flooring.
While cypress has always been an architectural fixture in its main growth regions, it is being used throughout the United States in what had traditionally been cedar, redwood and treated pine applications