Questions tagged [pressure-treated]

Wood that has been treated to resist rot and insects, and thus can be used outdoors. Use in conjunction with questions about the wood and its uses. Please include any relevant project tags as well (such as [fence] or [deck])

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Are pressure-treated posts that have been submerged for a few days ruined?

I dug holes for four 8' 4x4 posts, and had the posts positioned and plumbed vertically in the holes, but had to leave for a couple days before I could concrete them in. In the meantime, storms came ...
Kerry Thomas's user avatar
13 votes
10 answers
153k views

Should I let pressure treated lumber dry before building with it?

I bought some treated 2x4s from Lowes, and they were fairly wet and heavy. I went ahead and built a firewood rack, but screwing into it releases a lot of water. It got me thinking, is it better to ...
TheSean's user avatar
  • 323
11 votes
4 answers
3k views

Pressure Treated wood joists rotten or just aged

The contractor I hired is using these PT Douglas Fir joists. They look old. he says they are structurally sound just discolored. I took a screwdriver and poked the joist and it did not sink in at all. ...
Cecilia's user avatar
  • 111
10 votes
8 answers
32k views

How can I build a long lasting low maintenance fence?

I'm needing to replace a blown down fence, and have been seeking advice and quotes from fencing contractors. There seem to be two conflicting schools of thought. One contractor advises that using ...
Samuel Jack's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
10k views

Should I powerwash and waterseal a pressure treated deck?

Is there any maintenance that I should be doing such as yearly power-washing and water-sealing for a pressure treated deck?
Michael Pryor's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
33k views

How can I join 2x6 pressure treated wood for a shed base?

I am creating a wood frame for my Suncast Sierra shed. I already weighed the pros and cons of each option for a base and came out with a wood frame as the most economical with all factors considered. ...
Anthony Greco's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
6k views

Can cutting pressure treated wood harm my saw blade?

Should I take time to clean my circular saw blade after cutting pressure treated lumber? Since fasteners other than stainless steel or galvanized can corrode when used in pressure treated wood, is it ...
Doresoom's user avatar
  • 15.6k
6 votes
1 answer
6k views

What kind of screws in to pressure treated plywood?

I am making hurricane panels for my house using the technique described here. The plywood I purchased is pressure treated. The sliding bolts are zinc, so I assume the screws that came with them are ...
longneck's user avatar
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6 votes
5 answers
44k views

What type of lag bolts should I use for a deck?

I am looking at galvanized lag bolts (for the ledger) and carriage bolts (for attaching the beam to the post) for a deck. I can't find "hot-dipped galvanized" bolts/lag screws only galvanized. Is ...
Michael's user avatar
  • 919
6 votes
2 answers
9k views

How should I paint cedar and pressure-treated pine?

I recently built a fence from white cedar (pickets) and pressure-treated pine (posts and rails). I have been told that I need to wait before painting or staining the fence in order to give the cedar ...
Vebjorn Ljosa's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
8k views

What nails to use for PT wood?

I'm re-framing my first floor and using PT wood everywhere where there is a possibility of area being flooded. PT wood is your typical 2x4(s) from Home Depot MCA - micronized copper azole ...
Dannyboy's user avatar
  • 674
5 votes
1 answer
289 views

Is it important to use special fasteners in treated wood for non-structural applications?

I'm getting ready to install under-floor insulation in my yurt platform. These are 2" x 4' x 8' foam panels under a 1 1/8" plywood floor, between 4" x 6" 0.40 ACQ pressure treated joists. The foam ...
Jay Bazuzi's user avatar
  • 11.7k
5 votes
2 answers
3k views

Should I use pressure-treated wood for a firewood shed?

Should I use treated wood or not? Is it preferred to use treated lumber for the studs and plywood for a firewood shed? Is there a reason not to use treated wood?
Brad Tombs's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
419 views

Should I apply termite preventative products to pressure treated wood?

There are pressure treated (4"x4") fence posts (set in concrete) nearby to a house. In that area there were previously termites (professionally treated in-ground). This is in a humid region, along the ...
Kris K.'s user avatar
  • 165
4 votes
7 answers
29k views

How long will a treated post last in the ground?

The power company says I can put my permanent service entrance on a 6" x 6" pressure treated post. My friend suggested I consider a metal post sunk in concrete, for greater longevity. How long should ...
Jay Bazuzi's user avatar
  • 11.7k
4 votes
1 answer
464 views

I'm using 2x12 for steps. At 4 feet, do I need a center support?

I'm using 2x12 for steps. At 4 feet, do I need a center support?
Jojo Dancer's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Are railroad ties suitable for a retaining wall under tree canopy?

This video shows a sharp cliff near my house that leads down to a stream. The drop is about 20 feet. I would like to build a 4' high retaining wall right around where you see a stack of dead branches. ...
Wynne's user avatar
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3 votes
5 answers
25k views

Should bottom wall plates in a basement be treated lumber?

Question for those who are well versed in framing and then maybe some code as well. I got into a discussion the other day between a couple other trades, they were suggesting I was wasting my time ...
CCCBuilder's user avatar
  • 1,421
3 votes
3 answers
21k views

"Treated" wood vs "Pressure Treated"

I recently bought what I thought was pressure treated railing pickets. But now that I look more carefully at the label, there is no UC code. My understanding is that each piece of PT has to be labeled ...
Chris Noe's user avatar
  • 395
3 votes
2 answers
4k views

Which wood fence boards will last longer, pressure-treated-lumber or non-treated lumber that has a treatment applied after the fence is built?

I just heard of the capability to build a fence with untreated lumber and to apply a disodium octaborate tetrahydrate solution after installation. The alternatives I have been considering are AWPA ...
Roxy's user avatar
  • 63
3 votes
5 answers
15k views

How to make pressure treated wood look old quickly

We are adding a porch onto our old tobacco barn and are using pressure treated lumber. We started in July to prepare for my daughter's outdoor wedding in late October. I would like for the porch wood ...
Cindy's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
3 answers
20k views

Can furring strips be installed diretly to a cinderblock wall not in a basement?

I've tried finding a definitive answer but it's far more common for folks to have block walls in basements that need to be furred out, so the information deals primarily with that and I believe this ...
ChiefTwoPencils's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
558 views

Is this pressure treated wood safe? [closed]

I just heard that Pressure Treated wood is not safe and can increase the risk of cancer. I am a DIYer, and very new to the field. once I heard that I started googling and apparently there are ...
asmgx's user avatar
  • 941
2 votes
2 answers
153 views

I spend long time in picking lumber. What do you look for when selecting boards?

I typically spend very long time in front of the lumber aisles inspecting boards. Many times I end up not getting anything after all because I thought all boards are imperfect. I see pros spent few ...
Andrew Hanson's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
919 views

Will wood glue hold on pressure treated lumber for exterior barn doors?

I have a bunch of 5/4” x 6” x 8’ severe weather pressure treated boards from Lowe’s and was going to wood glue them together and then trim it out with 3/4” x 4” pressure treated wood boards I have. I ...
Irish Redneck's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is there a test to determine if a nail is galvanized or not?

I bought a nailer which came with some old nails that I'm going to use for a shed floor into pressure treated wood. As you can see, they kinda look galvanized. They have that grey patina. But other ...
brentonstrine's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
9k views

Is it normal for pressure-treated lumber to warp?

I recently bought some pressure treated yellow pine for building some window boxes. After building them, I sealed them with a product that would protect the wood for 3-4 years, according to the can. ...
A. Rippingale's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
326 views

Winterizing new wet-treated pressure treated pine deck

We’re in a townhome and replaced our small 2nd floor deck/porch with wet-treated pressure treated pine 3-4 weeks ago. We had to do it well in advance of the other units for safety reasons. There’s a ...
Erin's user avatar
  • 43
2 votes
3 answers
387 views

Treehouse ladder - 12ft and corrosion resistant from pressure treated wood?

I'm designing an elevated deck/swingset combo and am trying to figure out how I'm going to build the ladder. But I've got a couple of challenges. One is that the main posts will be ground-contact ...
RandomEngy's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
37k views

How deep in ground should I install 4x4 PT fence posts?

I'm installing some 4x4 Pressure Treated 8' Tall Fence Posts for a chicken run. I want to have at least 7' tall fence, and am wondering if the 1' sunken depth is adequate. I have read conflicting ...
Mortinus's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is it safe to use pressure-treated wood for a workbench in my shed?

I have some leftover PT wood from building a platform for my shed. I'd like to use it to build a frame for a worktable that I can place inside that shed. It will stay dry in the shed, but the shed ...
alexw's user avatar
  • 505
2 votes
2 answers
14k views

When can I seal the picnic table I made from pressure treated lumber?

I have just built my very first picnic table (really, my very first anything). I used pressure treated lumber and galvanized hardware. I would like to seal the table before I put it outside, but I'm ...
James Hill's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Concrete post base wood too tight

I'm using the Simpson PB66Z "Galvanized Post Base" to attach my pressure treated 6x6 to the footing. The wood seems to be slightly too large to fit such that the bottom of the post rests on the metal. ...
Norman's user avatar
  • 151
2 votes
2 answers
212 views

Replace permatreated 4x4 Hand rail post on step where concrete holding it has cracked?

I bought a home 8 months ago where the deck handrail was planted at the edge of a concrete step as a 4x4 on the bottom step. The concrete at the edge of the step has cracked, the hand rail is wobbly, ...
D Webb's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
1 answer
103 views

Can uneven ACQ treatment be corrected on decorative objects?

I bought some "pineapple" post caps made of treated pine. When they arrived, I was taken aback to see, rather than an overall greenish tinge, splotches and patches of green. As my plan has been to ...
Eli's user avatar
  • 31
2 votes
0 answers
315 views

How can I quickly seal wet pressure-treated plywood?

I am replacing the floor in my camper and want to use 3/4" pressure-treated plywood but I want to apply some water sealer before I lay it down. Is there a way I can do this without waiting a lengthy ...
Steve Salowitz's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
100 views

Department store PT GC lumber

I'm using pressure treated, ground contact lumber like this one bought from Home Depot for an outdoor project in my backyard. Parts of the lumber are buried underground, and some of the buried ends ...
Fijoy Vadakkumpadan's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
597 views

Preserve treated wood?

What should I use, if anything, to preserve these steps made of treated wood? These are on my townhome's back porch. Two of the steps are directly exposed to weather. They were filthy but cleaned up ...
dex3703's user avatar
  • 123
2 votes
1 answer
4k views

How to stack and store old pressure treated fence boards

I acquired some used pressure treated 1x10 fence boards from a privacy fence teardown. Some of the boards do show some wood beetle signs where they were in contact with the ground. However, they are ...
robm's user avatar
  • 183
1 vote
3 answers
18k views

Should I use Pressure Treated Wood in a basement?

Home inspector once told me my basement has a slightly high moisture reading. No mold, dampness or musty smell. I am building an entertainment built-in out of lumber and MDF. Should I use pressure ...
Marinaio's user avatar
  • 1,610
1 vote
3 answers
12k views

Can pressure treated wood be buried in concrete?

I was planning a relatively simple, 6x8ft "2-post" pavilion, just a small structure to provide protection to a small bench. This design would require to bury the wood into the concrete ...
Alessio Sangalli's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Can I combine 2x4 lumber to build posts for barn?

Designing a barn/out-building for my off-grid place. Essentially this is an open structure (think of sticks with a roof), but part of which is a shed. The problem is, the longer poles will need to be ...
Kerry Thomas's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

new railings - should I use cedar or treated pine?

I'm replacing the railings on a balcony and have a choice between using cedar or a pressure treated pine. The railings will be painted, so will end up looking the same in either case. I'm looking for ...
mike's user avatar
  • 265
1 vote
1 answer
5k views

Why is my new pine fence turning black? Can I stain right over it without creating a bigger future headache?

We put in a new pine fence about 2-3 months ago. (Southern Yellow Pine, from Lowes. They called it “Severe Weather Pressure Treated Pine”) I have been trying to stain/seal it for the past month and a ...
user2831690's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
4k views

How to mate two pressure-treated 2x6s together?

I want to mate two 2x6s pressure-treated boards (span = 8') so that I can use them as a beam for my ground-level floating deck. Should I use a construction adhesive? Anything special given that the ...
Andrew Hanson's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
11k views

Is wolmanized wood different that just treated wood?

The title says it all, is wolmanized wood different that just treated wood?
Homer's user avatar
  • 331
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Best stain for a deck made of pressure treated wood

We recently got our deck redone with new planks of pressure-treated wood. We were advised by the contractor to give the planks 6 months before staining. It's time now. We live in central Indiana. The ...
Vick Gower's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
294 views

Cement vs pressure treated lumber porch [closed]

I'm looking to build an enclosed porch between two doors on the side of my house, and I've had contractors opt to either use a 12" concrete slab, or concrete/helical piles with pressure treated ...
Luke D's user avatar
  • 23
1 vote
1 answer
48 views

How to treat wood to use in a deck

I'd like to build a small (6'x8') floating deck for my yard. The deck would be resting on gravel. Ideally I'd like to use pressure treated wood, but a few of the pieces will need cuts, and my local ...
dB''s user avatar
  • 297
1 vote
1 answer
203 views

Will salty water from ice melt harm a wooden porch?

I rebuilt our covered porch out of pressure treated lumber a couple of summers ago. This past summer, we retreated it with Thompson's Water Seal. It's now winter, and we've actually had a cold spell ...
FreeMan's user avatar
  • 43.1k