type of lumber for decking boards?

Started by deercamp14x28, June 05, 2005, 07:55:40 PM

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deercamp14x28

June 05, 2005, 07:55:40 PM
Hi all.  It's been a long time since I've been to these boards - last time it was still in the old format.  Glad to see it's been updated.

I bought the small house plans about 3+ years ago and built a very nice 14'x28' cabin at my deer camp in Central Mississippi.  It turned out great and I love it.  

Well, I started my deck yesterday.  My deck is going to be 8'x20' and I layed the posts yesterday.  I have a ledger board bolted to the front of the cabin below the stairs and I'm going to use the same post/beam foundation I used on the cabin - the same one from the plans.

Anyway, next weekend I'll be cutting posts and setting joists and all that fun stuff.  Obviously pressure treated lumber there.  No brainer.  

Now, the following weekend I'll be laying the decking boards.  I'm going to use standard 2x6 boards for the decking, but here's my question.  The way I see it, I have 3 options:

* Use standard lumber with Thompson's Water Seal

* Use pressure trated lumber with Thompson's Water Seal

* Use pressure treated lumber by itself.

Now, remember, this is deer camp.  It doesn't have to look great - just needs to stand up to the elements in Central Mississippi.  Is there any concern with using pressure treated lumber on the deck?  I know there are come cancer concerns and what-not.  

Last note - there will be a roof over this deck.  It may be a couple of months before I get there though.  

glenn kangiser

#1
June 05, 2005, 08:41:37 PM Last Edit: June 05, 2005, 08:42:58 PM by glenn-k
CCA is not recommended in areas where you will be in contact with it any more.

Besides the  Thompsons here is information on Defy and other finishes from the Log Home Store.

http://aloghomestore.com/finish.shtml#defy-original
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

Please put your area in your sig line so we can assist with location specific answers.

jb

#2
June 07, 2005, 06:51:52 AM
in my opinion...I've just not been happy with the Thompsons water sealer. For the money spent, I have been using a brand by the name of "Woodsman". It is a sealant, but also a stain, and it has alot of pigment, so you get a good, rich coat of color on your boards. Water beads up very well, and it lasts quite a while.

deercamp14x28

#3
June 07, 2005, 08:40:02 AM
So I should be fine going with non-treated Pine for my 2x6 decking boards?  How long can/should I go before treating it with Woodsman or anything else?  Can it wait 1 week?  Will it be fine?

John Raabe

#4
June 07, 2005, 10:43:49 AM Last Edit: June 07, 2005, 10:49:12 AM by jraabe
The newer pressure treating process uses ACQ treatment. This treatment is based on copper rather than arsenate compounds.

• http://www.sutherlands.com/acq.htm
• http://www.ufpi.com/product/ptlumber/ptfaq.htm

Another option is to use Trex type composite decking lumber. There are many other brands and types of products all of which are low-maintenance and long lasting.

• http://www.trex.com/

In my climate (coastal NW) untreated boards may only last 5-8 years before turning organic. I have cedar decking that has now been exposed for 21 years and is holding up fine (but is not maintenance free  :() So using cedar, redwood or other naturally rot resistant lumber is the time tested way to go.
None of us are as smart as all of us.

John Raabe

#5
June 07, 2005, 11:31:30 AM
PS - It would be great to see a photo of the 14x28 cabin you built   :D. You can post it right in this forum.

Or send it as an attachment to questions@countryplans.com.
None of us are as smart as all of us.

deercamp14x28

#6
June 07, 2005, 12:31:03 PM
I have construction pics of my cabin at http://www.michaelsledge.com/cabin/index.html.  I started this cabin about 3 summers ago and only work on Saturdays.  Did very little last year.  Still have a couple of projects left on the core cabin - finish putting the T1-11 on interior walls, interior doors, and paint exterior.


I just started the deck - the pics for that are at
http://www.michaelsledge.com/deck/index.html

Before this cabin, I had never really built anything.

DavidLeBlanc

#7
June 07, 2005, 07:45:40 PM
Althernative to all above suggestions: Find out how much Ipe ("ee-pay") is in your neck of the woods. It's usually pretty cheap and so anti-rot that it's used, untreated, for things like dock pilings and the like. It's kind of like teak's S. American cousin.

Might put some wear on your tools though... ;)

DavidLeBlanc

#8
June 07, 2005, 07:50:23 PM
Hey Mr. Deercamp;

You seem to have built a nice little cabin! I just went and looked at the pics. Looks quite livable. I'd love to get an idea of what the interior looks like!

Any thoughts for other people who have never really built anything before? :)
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