Newbie needs lots of info on PT lumber

Posted by George on August 30, 2008, 11:37 am

RicodJour wrote:

> On Aug 29, 12:18 pm, d...@home.com wrote:

>> Hi:
>> I am a total newbie when it comes to building. I bought some
>> plans for a deck (eventually a gazebo), spent $$$ on tools, and also
>> spent several hundred $$ on PT lumber at Home Depot this spring.
>> (Mostly 2x6, 2x8 and 4x4's.)
>> The guy at HD said I should let the lumber get air and dry for a
>> couple months before using it. (It was soaking wet.) So I put nails
>> in the ends and vertically suspended all the boards from the ceiling
>> of my garage, with lots or air around each board.
>> A couple weeks ago I started......and stopped. The wood is
>> warped, in all 3 dimensions. Some badly, and some just a little.
>> Obviously I did something wrong. So I found this group, and hope
>> that some of you could give me some guidance.

>
> Ouch. You interpreted something an idiot said and did something that
> only a newbie would do. You've learned a valuable lesson - don't ever
> listen to the advice from a guy wearing an apron without verifying it
> with someone who actually knows what they are talking about.
>

But thats not what they told me on TV. They said their "associates" are
all highly skilled and knowledgeable and just waiting to help with a
smile. I am so disheartened because I can't believe my big box friend
would ever lie...

> Since Home Despot is so ready to take stuff back, you may want to try
> returning the stuff. They may balk at the time involved or they may
> not. Try returning ten pieces or so. If they accept those in return
> then you should be able to return all of it with only a moderate
> amount of pleading, accusing and stomping of feet.
>
> R

Posted by Dioclese on August 30, 2008, 8:06 pm

> Hi:
> I am a total newbie when it comes to building. I bought some
> plans for a deck (eventually a gazebo), spent $$$ on tools, and also
> spent several hundred $$ on PT lumber at Home Depot this spring.
> (Mostly 2x6, 2x8 and 4x4's.)
> The guy at HD said I should let the lumber get air and dry for a
> couple months before using it. (It was soaking wet.) So I put nails
> in the ends and vertically suspended all the boards from the ceiling
> of my garage, with lots or air around each board.
> A couple weeks ago I started......and stopped. The wood is
> warped, in all 3 dimensions. Some badly, and some just a little.
> Obviously I did something wrong. So I found this group, and hope
> that some of you could give me some guidance.
> First, are there some websites that give good, detailed info on
> the selection and use of PT wood?
> Secondly, here are a couple of basic questions. Did I let it dry
> correctly? Or should I have used it while it was still wet?
> Is there any way to get the wood to bend back into shape? All my
> joists will be double 2x8's. I just used some heavy-duty clamps to
> force the ends of 2 pieces of 2x8's back together , but it looks like
> the wood will crack/split if I try to go any further along the lengths
> of the boards..
> Even if the wood doesn't split, how should they be fastened, and
> will the fasteners hold after I release the clamps? My brother-in-law
> said to use long deck screws, but they look awfully weak, and so I was
> thinking of using 3/8 s.s. bolts with s.s. fender washers next to the
> wood. But all this is based on the wood not cracking/splitting, and I
> have a hunch that it is going too once I start moving down the length
> of the 2 boards..
> As I said, I am a newbie. Any basic info on PT wood would be
> __much__ appreciated, as would pointers to any lengthy
> discussions/primers on pt wood on any websites.
> Thanks for any help you can provide.
> dave

Either, use the PT lumber immediately. Or, if delivered banded, leave it
banded and wait a few months in hot, dry weather, and don't cover it. The
latter will warp, but basically not as much and, more or less, warp the same
directions. The former is harder to anticipate warpage and/or twist
direction.

Use true,actual stainless steel screws or similar wherever possible in any
event. Zinc coated steel fasteners will eventually rust. Same material
plank nailers will eventually lift, or the nails themselves popup.
--
Dave

Posted by the_tool_man on September 2, 2008, 9:51 am

Dave:

The PT wood you buy at home centers is soaking wet from the PT
process. They turn their inventory so fast that it doesn't have any
time to dry before you pick yours up. As others have said, it usually
moves some and always shrinks noticably. Also as others have said,
either use it right away, leave it banded, or sticker it for drying.
For certain parts of a deck that will be especially long, visible and
difficult to restrain from warpage (handrails, for instance), I buy
KDAT (kiln dried after treatment) wood. It costs about 10% more, but
comes dry and does not warp. You won't find KDAT at any home center.
You'll have to go to a lumber yard for that.

Regards,
John.

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Newbie needs lots of info on PT lumber - Page 2