Full Answer
Can you use pressure treated wood for decking?
Pressure Treated Wood Deck Boards. Pressure treated wood is the classic low-cost deck board. Pressure treated wood in longer lengths (10 feet or greater) and wider widths (6 inches or greater) can work as an effective deck board, but with a few limitations.
What is the best type of deck board for your home?
Pressure treated wood is the classic low-cost deck board. Pressure treated wood in longer lengths (10 feet or greater) and wider widths (6 inches or greater) can work as an effective deck board, but with a few limitations.
What type of decking lumber do I Need?
For decks and docks of all kinds, many contractors choose UC4B and UC4C for the decking and framing. Experienced contractors know that you need to have lumber that is certified for “ground contact” or higher for humid, harsh, or near water applications.
Why decks&docks for Marine Lumber?
We’re marine lumber experts. You can feel confident that the wood you source from Decks & Docks will be long-lasting and safe to use outdoors. Lumber treatment can be difficult to understand.
Is decking wood treated?
Most new decking already comes pre-treated, just look for a green or brown tinge or the surface of your deck will be slightly darker than the cut end.
Do deck boards need to be treated?
As long as there's a good chance that moisture can reach the wood, it should be pressure treated. This is why the International Building Code requires that siding and structural lumber used for the last six inches of the structure above the ground is pressure treated.
How do I know if my wood deck is treated?
New lumber that is pressure treated will have tags that identify the chemical used. More noticeably is the green or brown colors from the treating process. So newer wood is easier to identify as treated. As the treated wood ages it can turn a grey colour.
How can you tell if a board is pressure treated?
Most pressure treated lumber will have an end tag to identify what type of chemicals it was treated with and whether it is rated for “ground contact” or “above ground use” only.
Can I leave my deck untreated?
It is highly unlikely that the deck will rot, splinter or decay if you choose not to have it finished and you can always choose to stain and protect the deck at a later date. If you choose to revitalize the natural color of the wood, we recommend our two-step maintenance clean.
Can I build a deck with untreated wood?
Yes, you can use untreated wood to build a deck, but not without preparing it first. You can't, of course, pressure treat it yourself, but you will need to seal; the wood and stain/paint it to ensure the wood is ready to take on the harsh external weather.
How can I tell what my deck is made of?
Touch the wood to determine how hard or soft it is. If you can scratch or dent the wood with your fingernail, it is a softwood. Softwood is generally cheaper than hardwood and is easy to nail so it is often found on decks. Pine, spruce and cedar are types of softwoods.
How can you tell the difference between wood and pressure treated wood?
In most cases, figuring out whether wood has been pressure treated is pretty straightforward, Shaddy says. Older pressure-treated wood has an olive-green tint, while newer pressure-treated wood has a stamp identifying it as such, and, in some cases, an alphanumeric code providing information on the level of toxicity.
Should I stain pressure treated wood?
Not only can you stain treated wood, painting and staining pressure-treated wood is actually good for your new deck. Although the treated wood doesn't need to be protected against rot, staining it will help reduce surface cracking.
Can I paint pressure treated wood?
Yes, you can paint or stain pressure-treated wood, but for a long-lasting and great-looking finish evaluate the wood's moisture content first, then use the correct paint and primer.
Will pressure treated wood rot?
The answer to does pressure treated wood rot is simply yes. Any pressure treated wood rot is usually due to a fungal issue. The fungi that cause this are very small organisms that move into the wood and feed on it over time. This causes the pressure treated wood to decay and soften which then turns into rot.
How toxic is pressure treated wood?
According to the National Academy of Sciences, long-term exposure to the arsenic that is found in some types of CCA-pressure-treated lumber can increase the risk of lung, bladder, and skin cancer over a person's lifetime.
How do I keep bugs from coming through my deck boards?
Cover the gap between the deck and the ground with a skirt made of pressure-treated or composite plywood. This stops bugs from coming up through the floorboards of the deck.
How do you seal decking boards?
Applying Deck Sealer to a Wood DeckStep 1: Check the forecast. ... Step 2: Clear the deck. ... Step 3: Sand (if needed) ... Step 4: Remove debris. ... Step 5: Stir sealer. ... Step 6: Apply sealer. ... Step 7: Repeat & fine tune. ... Step 8: Let it dry.
Should I stain deck boards before install?
Should you Pre-stain New Wood Before Install? The simple answer is No. Wood decks are a great way to add extra outdoor living space to any home.
How long will pressure treated decking last?
How Long Does Pressure-Treated Wood Last? It depends on the climate, the type of wood, its uses, and how well it's maintained. While pressure treated poles can stay up to 40 years without any signs of rot or decay, decks and flooring might only last around 10 years.
What is material package?from sutherlands.com
A material package consists of un-cut lumber, fasteners, hardware and plans. Please contact our store for more information or to place an order.
What is 84 lumber?from 84lumber.com
For over 30 years, 84 Lumber has been a leading manufacturer of metal plate connected roof and floor trusses and wall panels for some of the country’s largest single-family and commercial builders.
Is railing included in a package?from sutherlands.com
Railing and Steps are not included. All options and specifications are subject to change and may vary from store to store. It is the customer's responsibility to check local codes before starting a building project. Additional material may need to be purchased to comply with local codes. The actual list of materials and products provided with our packages can vary by store, and may be different than displayed on this website or video. Please consult your salesperson for an actual list of the products included with packages sold in your area. If paint is supplied with this package, it is not applied. Many lumber and building materials included with our packages are commodity items where prices can and do change daily. Any pricing displayed on this web site is subject to change at any time without notice. Pricing and description errors are subject to correction.
What is the lowest cost decking board?
Except for pallet wood, untreated hem-fir is the lowest cost wood decking board. Because it is strong, it has a great joist distance span. If a painted solid color is what you want in a deck, you can choose a wood like hem-fir. Preservation of hem-fir is difficult.
What is the best material for deck flooring?
Wood is often the most cost-effective and efficient material for creating deck flooring. Wood looks great, weathers well, spans wide joist distances, and is easily available. Natural wood's closest contenders, composite wood and PVC, are very durable and friendly to bare feet. But they are expensive and have short joist spans.
What woods are good for termites?
Softwoods like Douglas Fir, Hemlock, Southern Yellow Pine, and Ponderosa Pine easily decay and provide an attractive food source to termites and carpenter ants. Forcing the preservative copper azole, type C (CA-C) into the wood transforms it into a useless food source for bugs and wards off fungi. Pressure treated wood boards are easy to obtain ...
What is pressure treated wood?
Pressure treated wood is the classic low-cost deck board. Pressure treated wood in longer lengths (10 feet or greater) and wider widths (6 inches or greater) can work as an effective deck board, but with a few limitations.
Can hem fir be used as decking?
Due to the ready availability of inexpensive pressure treated wood and other materials that hold up well against decay, untreated dimensional lumber such as hem-fir is not often used as decking boards, But with its low prices, hem-fir certainly can be used as long as precautions are taken against insects and deterioration.
Is IPE wood hard to work with?
Ipe is a gorgeous dark-brown wood that maintains its appearance with only minimal maintenance. Once installed, ipe has few disadvantages as a decking material. However, due to its sheer hardness, ipe can be difficult to work with and it can blunt tools.
Is redwood good for decking?
Once commonly used for fences, play structures, and decks, redwood is becoming harder to find. When available, redwood is still an excellent choice for deck floorboards . Heartwood costs about 25-percent more than the less desirable sapwood. No preservatives are required to maintain redwood. Redwood weathers to an attractive deep red color. Since redwood is difficult to find on the open market, this makes it a less desirable choice for decks. Redwood will begin to get splintery over time, making it unsuitable for walking on with bare feet.
How is marine lumber treated?
To prepare it for harsh marine environments, wood is pressure treated with a combination of water and preservatives to keep pests away and slow the rate of decay. Different preservatives are suited for different applications and types of wood. Let’s go over some of the most common treatments you’ll see in marine lumber.
What lumber is used for docking?
For decks and docks of all kinds, many contractors choose UC4B and UC4C for the decking and framing. Experienced contractors know that you need to have lumber that is certified for “ground contact” or higher for humid, harsh, or near water applications.
Why Does Lumber Treatment Type Matter?
There’s a common misconception that all treated lumber is created equal, but each kind has its own unique properties and applications. If you want your dock or deck to be safe, durable, and compliant with local building codes, you need to understand the differences between types of pressure-treated lumber.
Why do you use lumber treatment?
These treatments help protect lumber from rot, moisture, and burrowing pests—and to prevent the treatment in your lumber from seeping out into the environment. This lumber can often be used in environments where occasional saltwater contact is likely, such as framing over saltwater. Lumber that isn’t safe for ground contact will wear away faster and may even cause damage to the flora and fauna surrounding it.
What is ACQ in lumber?
ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary) – Contains a quaternary compound including copper and ammonium. ACQ is strong against fungi, insects, and other marine creatures that may damage the integrity of lumber.
What is the best preservative for marine lumber?
Let’s go over some of the most common treatments you’ll see in marine lumber. MCA (micronized copper azole) and CA (copper azole) – Copper-based preservatives suitable for above-ground, below-ground, and freshwater uses. These treatments penetrate deep into lumber to prevent rot from water exposure and pests.
What is marine grade lumber?
This indicates that the wood can withstand continuous saltwater exposure.
What is retention level in wood?
These amounts are called “retention levels,” referring to the amount of preservative retained in the wood after treatment. Furthermore, each preservative has its individual retention level for these applications. Be sure to obtain wood treated for the application you have in mind. The intended use is identified on the tag stapled to each piece of lumber.
What is pressure treated wood?
Wood can be impregnated with a variety of preservative chemicals to prevent rot and insect infestation in exterior applications like decks. Several species of wood can be treated, but a regionally available species usually predominates in any particular locale.
Why is treated wood shrinking?
Because treated wood is often still wet when it is delivered to the site, it will shrink slightly in width and thickness as it dries out. This can cause significant twisting, cupping, bowing and warping especially in lower-grade boards where knots and uneven grains are already present.
What is treated wood?
The predominant species of treated wood is a regionally available softwood. Most common are: Southern Yellow Pine - Southern pine is the most common deck framing material in the eastern United States. It is strong and stiff. SYP logs yield a high proportion of sapwood, which works well to absorb preservative.
Which logs are stronger, syp or Douglas Fir?
SYP logs yield a high proportion of sapwood, which works well to absorb preservative. Red and Ponderosa Pine - Less strong than SYP , found in northern U.S. and Canada. Douglas Fir – It is very strong and is less prone to warping and spitting than SYP. Predominant material found in western U.S. and Canada.
How many holes are allowed in a 5/4 deck?
Number 1- Will contain no splits larger than the width of the board. Knots may not be larger than 2 ¾". One hole is permitted every 3 ft. Standard - Mid-range grade for 5/4 decking. Number 2 - Grain slope must meet minimum 1/8 grain slope. Boards will contain no splits larger than 1.5 times width of board.
What is grade in lumber?
Grade is a description of the quality of a given species. As lumber moves through a mill, grading inspectors review each piece and separate them onto different paths. Knots, decay, grain angle, wane, damage, warp and other physical characteristics of an individual piece of lumber distinguish it into a specific grade.
Why do deck boards shrink when they dry?
The extra weight makes wet decking boards harder to work and to cut, and they shrink when they dry. This means joists can “rise up” out of their hangers, making them bouncier and less well supported. Fasteners can loosen and your deck can wind up with uneven and unsightly wide gaps between the boards.
How deep are 2x10 deck boards?
The depths of joists can vary by as much as 3/8 in.; the 12-ft. long 2x10s at your lumberyard may measure 9-1/8 in . in depth, while the 16-footers measure 9-1/2 in. Deck boards secured to uneven joists will flex more and the fasteners will creak and pop. Use joists that vary less than 1/8 in.
What is the CCA in decking?
Your decking boards will be tagged with the concentration and treating solution used. Use .40 material if you can't find .25. CCA (chromated copper arsenate) is being phased out because of health concerns. ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quat) and other preservatives are replacing it.
What is the difference between sapwood and heartwood?
Heartwood contains the natural preservative oils that give these woods their resistance to decay and insect attack. Heartwood in these species is the darker core of the tree. Sapwood —lighter in color and cut from the outer edges of the tree—lacks these natural oils.
What is pressure treated lumber?
Pressure-treated lumber is rated according to the pounds of preservative retained per cubic foot of wood; the higher the number, the better the protection against fungi and insect attack. Select decking boards with the preservative concentration suitable for their use.
How long does it take for decking boards to dry?
You can “sticker” the wood and let it dry for a few weeks. For decking boards, look for wood that's labeled KDAT (kiln dried after treatment).
Why use full length butting board?
Full-length material allows you to avoid butting boards end to end, which can invite trouble; the ends of boards are more absorbent, slower to dry out and more susceptible to rotting, swelling and splintering. Fasteners driven close to the ends also tend to split the wood, making the ends even more vulnerable. Step 9.
