OT--Barn Deck

Jiles · May 10, 2019

Four years ago, I decided to build an outdoor deck for equipment barn.
Bought all PT lumber from THREE different stores.
Now four years later, I need to replace several guard rail top boards along with several 4x4 post and many deck floor boards!
Bought next to the best six year stain and waited about eight months to stain lumber that was as dry as it was ever going to be.
All dealers said it was my fault !

I have come to the conclusion that all PT lumber is treated "green" and how much treatment chemical can green lumber absorber ??
Years ago, I used a lot of PT lumber around my place and never stained or painted and it is still weathered but sound.
I don't know where to buy replacement lumber.

rustyfarmall · May 10, 2019

I am convinced that the mega-store building centers DO NOT have the best quality lumber. PT or otherwise.

Jiles · May 10, 2019

(quoted from post at 15:20:50 05/10/19)
I am convinced that the mega-store building centers DO NOT have the best quality lumber. PT or otherwise.

For whatever it is worth, a lot of the lumber was bought from a local privately owned hardware store.

BarnyardEngineering · May 10, 2019

It all comes from the same place.

The problem is the chemical used to treat the lumber. It's not the same as it used to be for environmental reasons.

Oregon Tractor Jack · May 10, 2019

Yes all the PT lumber is processed green. When you cut into say a 4X4 you can see that the treatment only good in the first 1" or so of the wood. The other issue is the general quality of the raw lumber. All of the lumber used for PT is going to be second or third growth lumber. And then it usually smaller trees. Around here you get a lot of hemlock PT. It is really poor quality generally and is no where as strong as Douglass Fir. The brother in-law replaced the deck on his car trailer with hemlock PT. Used it a couple of times and some of the boards started to break just from loading cars on it. Five years later he was replacing the whole deck again.

OTJ

Ellis Kinney · May 10, 2019

I use a lot of pressure treated stuff, just like everybody else. You can buy kiln dried pressure treated lumber. Everything that goes in the ground gets 2 or
3 coats of tar mixed with a little diesel so I can paint it. I hired a kid to paint the overhangs on my barns with tar. Seems to work ok. Ellis

Steve@Advance · May 10, 2019

There are a lot of different grades and types of treated lumber.

What is found at the local lumber store will likely be UC4A, which is rated for ground contact.

It will work above ground, but probably more vulnerable to warping and checking as it dries.

There are better grades available. But I don't know if they are available to the consumer, or where you would find them, or if it would be cost effective to procure it. You might try some commercial lumber yards, if they will work with you. Some will, some only want to deal with commercial accounts.

What I don't understand is how the failure was your fault. Of course that's the easiest thing for them to say, hoping you will take the answer and buy some more or go away. Maybe chasing the answer up the chain of command would get some results.

I don't know the size of your project or the budget, but maybe using redwood or cedar would be an option. There are composite decking options, but that gets into serious money.
Treated Lumber Options

Jiles · May 10, 2019

(quoted from post at 17:07:14 05/10/19) There are a lot of different grades and types of treated lumber.

What is found at the local lumber store will likely be UC4A, which is rated for ground contact.

It will work above ground, but probably more vulnerable to warping and checking as it dries.

There are better grades available. But I don't know if they are available to the consumer, or where you would find them, or if it would be cost effective to procure it. You might try some commercial lumber yards, if they will work with you. Some will, some only want to deal with commercial accounts.

What I don't understand is how the failure was your fault. Of course that's the easiest thing for them to say, hoping you will take the answer and buy some more or go away. Maybe chasing the answer up the chain of command would get some results.

I don't know the size of your project or the budget, but maybe using redwood or cedar would be an option. There are composite decking options, but that gets into serious money.
Treated Lumber Options

[b:6db292244b] "What I don't understand is how the failure was your fault"[/b:6db292244b]
Their reason was that I stained when not dry.
That is as good as any excuse--all warranties have many ways for seller or manufacturer to deny claim !
I put no faith in any warranty---buyer beware !

3000OH · May 10, 2019

Excellent piece, thanks for posting.

Leroy · May 11, 2019

Is redwood still avaible anyplace? Haven't seen any sign it is for 30+ years.

DoubleO7 · May 11, 2019

(quoted from post at 12:26:26 05/10/19) Yes all the PT lumber is processed green. When you cut into say a 4X4 you can see that the treatment only good in the first 1" or so of the wood. The other issue is the general quality of the raw lumber. All of the lumber used for PT is going to be second or third growth lumber. And then it usually smaller trees. Around here you get a lot of hemlock PT. It is really poor quality generally and is no where as strong as Douglass Fir. The brother in-law replaced the deck on his car trailer with hemlock PT. Used it a couple of times and some of the boards started to break just from loading cars on it. Five years later he was replacing the whole deck again.

OTJ

What is sold as pt wood must depend on the region.
You won't find any hemlock or douglass fir.
Yellow pine is all you are going to find in the southeast.

Leroy · May 12, 2019

Being from Ohio I thought it was all that yellow pine.

OT--Barn Deck

Jiles

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rustyfarmall

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Jiles

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BarnyardEngineering

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Oregon Tractor Jack

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Ellis Kinney

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Steve@Advance

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Jiles

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3000OH

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Leroy

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DoubleO7

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Leroy

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