Table

Posted by Dioclese on May 18, 2009, 6:05 am

I built a very large picnic table last year made exclusively out of PT 2x6s
last year. Not to be outdone, my son built one of his own vision. He used
PT 4X4s for the legs, rest of the lumber is white pine with water sealer.
2X10s for the top, and 2X12s for the seats, 2X6 framing members. It looks
awesome.

My question is regarding longevity, is this going to be a problem down the
road for his picnic table regarding use of non-PT lumber? He did use water
sealer on it.

--
Dave

Posted by PeterD on May 18, 2009, 8:57 am

On Mon, 18 May 2009 05:05:36 -0500, "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote:

>I built a very large picnic table last year made exclusively out of PT 2x6s
>last year. Not to be outdone, my son built one of his own vision. He used
>PT 4X4s for the legs, rest of the lumber is white pine with water sealer.
>2X10s for the top, and 2X12s for the seats, 2X6 framing members. It looks
>awesome.
>My question is regarding longevity, is this going to be a problem down the
>road for his picnic table regarding use of non-PT lumber? He did use water
>sealer on it.

Pressure treated is *never* recommended for picnic table tops, or
bench seats...

Instead use cedar, redwood, or other more compatible with people and
health solutions, and leave the PT wood to the deck!

So your son's is the better solution... but not the best one...

Posted by jloomis on May 18, 2009, 9:11 am

I used RedWood.
Your table should be fine as well as your sons.
The problem with wood outdoors is, the sun, and moisture.
As long as there is no earth to wood contact other than the legs, and the
table is sealed well, it should be fine.
I like the penetrating seals, and when I pressure wash my house, I do the
table and seal it.
I believe the older pressure treated wood has been discontinued due to
cuperic arsenic. Now they use an ammonia copper. Supposed to be more
friendly.
jloomis

> On Mon, 18 May 2009 05:05:36 -0500, "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote:

>>I built a very large picnic table last year made exclusively out of PT
>>2x6s
>>last year. Not to be outdone, my son built one of his own vision. He
>>used
>>PT 4X4s for the legs, rest of the lumber is white pine with water sealer.
>>2X10s for the top, and 2X12s for the seats, 2X6 framing members. It looks
>>awesome.
>>My question is regarding longevity, is this going to be a problem down the
>>road for his picnic table regarding use of non-PT lumber? He did use
>>water
>>sealer on it.

> Pressure treated is *never* recommended for picnic table tops, or
> bench seats...
> Instead use cedar, redwood, or other more compatible with people and
> health solutions, and leave the PT wood to the deck!
> So your son's is the better solution... but not the best one...

Posted by Dioclese on May 19, 2009, 5:23 am

Reason I asked about longevity is I have a rather large front porch. I
noticed after a couple of years, I have to re-apply water sealer to its deck
as it appears to be drying out after that time period. Due soon again.

I may go to using pine 2X12s for the seats on my bench as I've replaced some
of those PT 2X6s more than once due to excessive curving up or down. Oddly,
the top doesn't have that problem. Well, not really. The top has 3 rails,
the seats only have 2.

Gotta agree with cedar/redwood, if you can afford that. They haven't sold
the older version of PT lumber around here for more than a couple of years.
My bench is only a year old. As far as health concerns, I throw a large
heavy, woven painter's tarp over it when actually used. Has no paint on it.
--
Dave

>I used RedWood.
> Your table should be fine as well as your sons.
> The problem with wood outdoors is, the sun, and moisture.
> As long as there is no earth to wood contact other than the legs, and the
> table is sealed well, it should be fine.
> I like the penetrating seals, and when I pressure wash my house, I do the
> table and seal it.
> I believe the older pressure treated wood has been discontinued due to
> cuperic arsenic. Now they use an ammonia copper. Supposed to be more
> friendly.
> jloomis

>> On Mon, 18 May 2009 05:05:36 -0500, "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote:

>>>I built a very large picnic table last year made exclusively out of PT
>>>2x6s
>>>last year. Not to be outdone, my son built one of his own vision. He
>>>used
>>>PT 4X4s for the legs, rest of the lumber is white pine with water sealer.
>>>2X10s for the top, and 2X12s for the seats, 2X6 framing members. It
>>>looks
>>>awesome.
>>>My question is regarding longevity, is this going to be a problem down
>>>the
>>>road for his picnic table regarding use of non-PT lumber? He did use
>>>water
>>>sealer on it.

>> Pressure treated is *never* recommended for picnic table tops, or
>> bench seats...
>> Instead use cedar, redwood, or other more compatible with people and
>> health solutions, and leave the PT wood to the deck!
>> So your son's is the better solution... but not the best one...

Posted by PeterD on May 19, 2009, 9:16 am

On Tue, 19 May 2009 04:23:02 -0500, "Dioclese" <NONE> wrote:

>Reason I asked about longevity is I have a rather large front porch. I
>noticed after a couple of years, I have to re-apply water sealer to its deck
>as it appears to be drying out after that time period. Due soon again.

I do these as often as anually, but usually bi-yearly. Not difficult,
fortunately.

>I may go to using pine 2X12s for the seats on my bench as I've replaced some
>of those PT 2X6s more than once due to excessive curving up or down. Oddly,
>the top doesn't have that problem. Well, not really. The top has 3 rails,
>the seats only have 2.
>Gotta agree with cedar/redwood, if you can afford that.

At least with the last one I built, the cedar was not much more than
PT. Prices vary a lot with season, year, and sales, so YMMV, of
course. I'm really happy with the cedar that I used over the years, it
seems better than PT wood.

>They haven't sold
>the older version of PT lumber around here for more than a couple of years.
>My bench is only a year old. As far as health concerns, I throw a large
>heavy, woven painter's tarp over it when actually used. Has no paint on it.

But a few mustard and ketchup stains, right? <RBG!>

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