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How should I store pressure treated wood? stratford1 05-06-2008
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Posted by JoeSpareBedroom on May 6, 2008, 3:36 pm
> Ok, thanks everyone for the advice. Following up on what some of you
> have said... This is an entryway deck so although we wont be on it
> barefoot (at least originally), should we be concerned about tracking
> in any chemicals from the boards? Our plan is to eventually stain the
> deck...will this sufficiently seal in the chemicals? We dont have any
> kids now, but could eventually - and overall I'd rather not have toxic
> stuff exposed regardless. Also how should we address the toxic nature
> of these boards with the philosophy that the deck should be left
> untreated (unstained) for a year to let it breathe? Is there a good
> way to deal with toxic boards for a year? Sorry for all the questions
> on this...I'm a little caught by suprise on this - I was under the
> assumption originally that PT decking was sort of the standard. Its
> starting to sound like more hassle than its worth. Ideas?


Others will disagree, but I would never use PT wood for any surface that
will come into contact with humans or animals I cared about. You can get
synthetic deck boards for such purposes. The chemicals used in PT wood are
different from what they used to be, and they might now be safer. Or, they
may not. It's being tested on you and your family.



Posted by pipedown on May 6, 2008, 4:29 pm

> Ok, thanks everyone for the advice. Following up on what some of you
> have said... This is an entryway deck so although we wont be on it
> barefoot (at least originally), should we be concerned about tracking
> in any chemicals from the boards? Our plan is to eventually stain the
> deck...will this sufficiently seal in the chemicals? We dont have any
> kids now, but could eventually - and overall I'd rather not have toxic
> stuff exposed regardless. Also how should we address the toxic nature
> of these boards with the philosophy that the deck should be left
> untreated (unstained) for a year to let it breathe? Is there a good
> way to deal with toxic boards for a year? Sorry for all the questions
> on this...I'm a little caught by suprise on this - I was under the
> assumption originally that PT decking was sort of the standard. Its
> starting to sound like more hassle than its worth. Ideas?

Stain will not be sufficient to seal in the treatment, you need a paint to
completely encapsulate the surface. PT wood has all those track marks on
the surface (helps the treatment sink in and identifies the wood as PT to
the consumer) which is unatttractive for decking. PT is like low levels of
Asbestos. If it's left alone, painted and undisturbed, it works quite well.
But if you cut it and expose yourself just the right way, it can reveal its
toxic nature.

PT wood also isn't necessarily very hard often made of pine or douglas fir.
Soft woods make poor decking because shoes and rocks can tear it up quickly
and leave dents and scratches etc. What exactly did you get for the
decking, don't tell us you were going to use 2x4s. You may have got a PT
decking material thats appropriate.

If you plan to stain it, then that will give you the protection of the PT
lumber anyway. If you got the stuff at HD or Lowes, return most of it while
you still have the 90 day return policy. Get sometyhing more appropriate
for porch decking, there are many choices both natural and synthetic and
consider what kind of fastner (screw or nail) it needs up front. You should
still use the PT for the under structure of the joists and frame, just not
the decking.

Decking lumber will cost a bit more than framing lumber but it will last
longer and look better. My favorite is Ipe (or ironwood) but that can get
expensive. Redwood, Cedar and some of the new synthetic wood (wood fibers
and resin) are good choices as well. Those are nice because you may never
need to stain them saving hundreds over the years mitigating the extra
original cost. All depends on how good you want it to look and how long it
should last. IMO a painted PT deck is something a cheap landloard puts in
to provide a safe but cheap porch for a tenant when the old one rots away.



Posted by dpb on May 6, 2008, 5:47 pm
stratford1 wrote:
> Ok, thanks everyone for the advice. Following up on what some of you
> have said... This is an entryway deck so although we wont be on it
> barefoot (at least originally), should we be concerned about tracking
> in any chemicals from the boards? Our plan is to eventually stain the
> deck...will this sufficiently seal in the chemicals? We dont have any
> kids now, but could eventually - and overall I'd rather not have toxic
> stuff exposed regardless. Also how should we address the toxic nature
> of these boards with the philosophy that the deck should be left
> untreated (unstained) for a year to let it breathe? Is there a good
> way to deal with toxic boards for a year? Sorry for all the questions
> on this...I'm a little caught by suprise on this - I was under the
> assumption originally that PT decking was sort of the standard. Its
> starting to sound like more hassle than its worth. Ideas?

My personal opinion is the "problem" is far overblown to the severity of
the disease. I'd suggest not letting a toddler crawl directly on a new
PT surface, but crawling directly on any exterior wood deck isn't a
great choice, anyway. You're not going to track in enough stuff to
matter a whit.

You can't successfully paint/seal/stain/whatever treated for a year for
it to finish drying and painting imo is the most problematic
choice--it'll require far more care than alternatives.

Redwood used to be my choice, but it's almost unobtainium any more. The
alternates of ipe and other similar species are another choice. I
personally don't much care for any of the composites I've seen; others
swear by them...

--

Posted by JoeSpareBedroom on May 6, 2008, 5:58 pm
> stratford1 wrote:
>> Ok, thanks everyone for the advice. Following up on what some of you
>> have said... This is an entryway deck so although we wont be on it
>> barefoot (at least originally), should we be concerned about tracking
>> in any chemicals from the boards? Our plan is to eventually stain the
>> deck...will this sufficiently seal in the chemicals? We dont have any
>> kids now, but could eventually - and overall I'd rather not have toxic
>> stuff exposed regardless. Also how should we address the toxic nature
>> of these boards with the philosophy that the deck should be left
>> untreated (unstained) for a year to let it breathe? Is there a good
>> way to deal with toxic boards for a year? Sorry for all the questions
>> on this...I'm a little caught by suprise on this - I was under the
>> assumption originally that PT decking was sort of the standard. Its
>> starting to sound like more hassle than its worth. Ideas?
>
> My personal opinion is the "problem" is far overblown to the severity of
> the disease.


I could be convinced. Show me your sources of information, please.



Posted by dpb on May 6, 2008, 8:44 pm
JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>> stratford1 wrote:
>>> Ok, thanks everyone for the advice. Following up on what some of you
>>> have said... This is an entryway deck so although we wont be on it
>>> barefoot (at least originally), should we be concerned about tracking
>>> in any chemicals from the boards? Our plan is to eventually stain the
>>> deck...will this sufficiently seal in the chemicals? We dont have any
>>> kids now, but could eventually - and overall I'd rather not have toxic
>>> stuff exposed regardless. Also how should we address the toxic nature
>>> of these boards with the philosophy that the deck should be left
>>> untreated (unstained) for a year to let it breathe? Is there a good
>>> way to deal with toxic boards for a year? Sorry for all the questions
>>> on this...I'm a little caught by suprise on this - I was under the
>>> assumption originally that PT decking was sort of the standard. Its
>>> starting to sound like more hassle than its worth. Ideas?
>> My personal opinion is the "problem" is far overblown to the severity of
>> the disease.
>
>
> I could be convinced. Show me your sources of information, please.

You never showed a single documented problem in the previous dozen or so
go-rounds, Joe. So, I'll pass this time... :)

--

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