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Tricks for Treated Lumber

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Pages in this Story:

• Lumber
• A Chemical Bath Starts the Process
• Safety
• No Perfect Finish Solution
• Alternative Outdoor Woods

Alternative Outdoor Woods

Strong pressure-treated wood resists decay and insect damage at a cost of about $1 per lineal foot. But these alternative outdoor materials bring their own advantages to the backyard table.

Cedar

Pros: Lightweight, naturally decay-resistant
Cons: Requires replacement about every 10 years
Cost per lineal foot: $1-2

White Oak

Pros: Dense and strong, moisture- and decay-resistant, accepts stains readily
Cons: Unavailable as dimensional deck lumber, pricey
Cost per lineal foot: $2-3

Ipe

Pros: Super-dense, strong, and stable; resists warping, cracking, decay, and denting; life-expectancy of 40-50 years with proper care
Cons: Heavy, pricey, and sometimes hard-to-find
Cost per lineal foot: $3-4

Wood/plastic composites

Pros: Rotproof, defect-free, and dimensionally stable; widely available in home centers
Cons: Not for structural applications, becomes hot to the touch in sunlight
Cost per lineal foot: $2-3

Thermally-Modified Wood

Pros: Lightweight, stable, rot- and insect-resistant, chemical-free
Cons: Limited availability, split-prone
Cost per lineal foot: $2

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Comments (3)

benewah67 wrote:

where do you find .60 treated deck material

1/4/2012 03:53:16 PM Report Abuse

TXwoodrat wrote:

Always check the number on the label stapled to the wood, .20 Won't last long. Most big box stores only carry .20. If you want your treated lumber to last any length of time get .40 or above. I only buy marine grade .60 when I buy treated lumber. Landscape timbers are all rated .20, so expect to replace them much sooner than you would think. Note that the .20 label says "not for ground contact," but these are "landscape" timbers so does that make sense?

6/15/2011 12:16:16 PM Report Abuse

Easy Rider wrote:

To save this document without select and paste, print the document to a PDF Printer. Go to PrimoPDF.com and download the FREE printer software. When you print to the PRIMOPDF printer, it will create a PDF document of the article you are trying to print at a save location you choose. No more copy and paste.

8/6/2010 02:01:44 PM Report Abuse