Which wood is treated?

Posted by mm on October 11, 2009, 5:18 pm

I've been assuming that if some wood from my old deck had rotted some
and the other wood is has rotted not at all, the rotted wood was not
treated. Is that right?

Specifically, the 30 year old deck that I mostly tore down last spring
had 2x4's for the floor that warped etc. but never rotted. I'm sure
they were treated, right?

But the 2x8's that went horizontally and held up the floor, and the
4x4's which were the posts, have substantial rot, mostly in the center
of each piece and on one side, or at one end, with the rest looking
pretty good. Can I assume those were treated?

I am burning in my fireplace the tree that fell down , and would like
to burn the non-treated lumber too.

Posted by Mark on October 11, 2009, 9:27 pm

> I've been assuming that if some wood from my old deck had rotted some
> and the other wood is has rotted not at all, the rotted wood was not
> treated. Is that right?
> Specifically, the 30 year old deck that I mostly tore down last spring
> had 2x4's for the floor that warped etc. but never rotted. I'm sure
> they were treated, right?
> But the 2x8's that went horizontally and held up the floor, and the
> 4x4's which were the posts, have substantial rot, mostly in the center
> of each piece and on one side, or at one end, with the rest looking
> pretty good. Can I assume those were treated?
> I am burning in my fireplace the tree that fell down , and would like
> to burn the non-treated lumber too.

If the deck, and all the wood in it was 30 years old, then it was probably
all PT. That is about the life expectancy of PT wood that is exposed and
not treated in some manner. Last spring I had a 4x4 PT fence post that
rotted off at the ground after 25 years. It had cracked allowing water to
get in to the less-treated center of the wood and it pretty much rotted from
the inside out.

I'd advise against burning any of the wood as the risk of chemicals isn't
worth the danger.

Posted by Phisherman on October 11, 2009, 10:18 pm

wrote:

>I've been assuming that if some wood from my old deck had rotted some
>and the other wood is has rotted not at all, the rotted wood was not
>treated. Is that right?
>Specifically, the 30 year old deck that I mostly tore down last spring
>had 2x4's for the floor that warped etc. but never rotted. I'm sure
>they were treated, right?
>But the 2x8's that went horizontally and held up the floor, and the
>4x4's which were the posts, have substantial rot, mostly in the center
>of each piece and on one side, or at one end, with the rest looking
>pretty good. Can I assume those were treated?
>I am burning in my fireplace the tree that fell down , and would like
>to burn the non-treated lumber too.

PT lasts maybe 20 or 30 years. Not all areas weather evenly or
treatment is not even, perhaps one area gets more rain or stays wet
longer than other areas. Dispose of unwanted PT wood in the trash.

Posted by mm on October 11, 2009, 11:49 pm

wrote:

>wrote:

>>I've been assuming that if some wood from my old deck had rotted some
>>and the other wood is has rotted not at all, the rotted wood was not
>>treated. Is that right?
>>Specifically, the 30 year old deck that I mostly tore down last spring
>>had 2x4's for the floor that warped etc. but never rotted. I'm sure
>>they were treated, right?
>>But the 2x8's that went horizontally and held up the floor, and the
>>4x4's which were the posts, have substantial rot, mostly in the center
>>of each piece and on one side, or at one end, with the rest looking
>>pretty good. Can I assume those were treated?
>>I am burning in my fireplace the tree that fell down , and would like
>>to burn the non-treated lumber too.

>PT lasts maybe 20 or 30 years. Not all areas weather evenly or
>treatment is not even, perhaps one area gets more rain or stays wet
>longer than other areas. Dispose of unwanted PT wood in the trash.

Some of this stuff needed repair, due to mild rotting, as much as 15
years ago, but I'll play it safe. Thank you

And Mark, what you said about rotting in the middle because the stuff
doesn't get all the way in makes sense. That applies to the 2x8's at
least Maybe a little to the 4x4's The major reason I thought those
parts weren't treated is that the floor stayed perfect while for years
everything else I could see rotted, even the outermost 2x8. And I
didnt' really think he would use PT wood for everything. (although in
that case, why the floor?)

Posted by Mark on October 12, 2009, 10:52 pm

> wrote:

>>wrote:

>>>I've been assuming that if some wood from my old deck had rotted some
>>>and the other wood is has rotted not at all, the rotted wood was not
>>>treated. Is that right?
>>>Specifically, the 30 year old deck that I mostly tore down last spring
>>>had 2x4's for the floor that warped etc. but never rotted. I'm sure
>>>they were treated, right?
>>>But the 2x8's that went horizontally and held up the floor, and the
>>>4x4's which were the posts, have substantial rot, mostly in the center
>>>of each piece and on one side, or at one end, with the rest looking
>>>pretty good. Can I assume those were treated?
>>>I am burning in my fireplace the tree that fell down , and would like
>>>to burn the non-treated lumber too.

>>PT lasts maybe 20 or 30 years. Not all areas weather evenly or
>>treatment is not even, perhaps one area gets more rain or stays wet
>>longer than other areas. Dispose of unwanted PT wood in the trash.

> Some of this stuff needed repair, due to mild rotting, as much as 15
> years ago, but I'll play it safe. Thank you
> And Mark, what you said about rotting in the middle because the stuff
> doesn't get all the way in makes sense. That applies to the 2x8's at
> least Maybe a little to the 4x4's The major reason I thought those
> parts weren't treated is that the floor stayed perfect while for years
> everything else I could see rotted, even the outermost 2x8. And I
> didnt' really think he would use PT wood for everything. (although in
> that case, why the floor?)

mm,

Not really sure what you're saying here. the decking (surface) are PT, but
you don't think the superstructure, 2x8s, 4x4's, etc. are? I can't imagine
building a deck that way.

My Bro-in-law has a deck that looked new when he bought his house about 5
yrs ago here in OH, and I warned him I didn't think the deck surface was PT,
even though it was stained and looked real nice. This summer he ended up
replacing the entire thing since it about totally rotted out.

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