Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Pressure treated porch framing

Our log home has a porch framed with pressure treated lumber (i.e., decking, joists, handrails). The home is a year and a half old and we want to keep the porch in tip top condition. What maintenance is recommended for pressure treated framing? Should we coat the porch with something from time to time?

Thanks for your help,
Jack

jdelong,

I have attached some links that should help you out. If Fewalt gets on, he has alot more experience than I in this area.

http://www.treatedwood.com/products/installationfaq.html

http://www.awpa.com/faq/faq3.htm

The process of pressure treating wood (CCA), protects the wood against rot and insects, it does not protect the wood from the sun and rain. Copper in the pressure treated wood acts as a fungicide and arsenic acts as an insecticide. When it rains the unprotected wood cells absorb water causing the cells to expand. When the deck dries the wood's cells shrink, this continuous cycle of expansion and contraction ultimately causes cracking in boards on your deck. Freeze and thaw cycles will also cause similar damage.
Most wood projects will look good for 2 to 3 years, sometimes longer.During that time it will turn a gray color and start to look dirty. Our advice is to have the deck protected as soon as it is built. If it was not protected when it was built have it cleaned and protected now!
Please do not use sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach), this acid causes more harm than good to wood fibers. Not only does it give the surface a "pasty" white look, it damages the fibers preventing good adhesion of any type of top coat.
By having your deck sealed, you are increasing the life of your deck and protecting your investment in a new deck

Hope these help!

Hello Jack,
Doug has given some good advice. I believe the sun's UV rays does as much or more damage than moisture. Grey weathered wood is UV caused in most cases.
You should be able to find an oil penetrating stain that will come close to your log home color. Consumer Reports has tested many brands and recommended Sikkens, Cabots, Wolman , and a couple others. Select one witjh water repellancy and UV protection. Most stains will only give 2 to 3 years service on horizontals, but a bit longer on vertical lumber.
Before staining, the wood should be cleaned thoroughly.
I agree with Doug, common bleach (sodium hypochlorite) bleaches all the color out of the wood. A good substitute is an oxygenated bleach containing sodium percarbnate. You should find one in a good specialty PAINT store, along with the better stains.

fred

Clean with a pressure washer, NO CHEMICALS.
They make heads specifically for washing decks that operate at about 4k psi, so you'll need to rent that setup.

Chemicals (including bleach), damage the wood, leave residue and patches and effect the adhesion and penetration of sealers and stains.

If the deck is protected from the sun, thompsons water seal is fine. If it's exposed, you'll need something with UV protection as well.

Wrong, wrong.
I disagree with Pendragon in almost every respect.

4000 psi is way too strong for pt lumber or a log home.
A 40 degree tip at about 1500 to 2002 psi will remove greyed uv dead wood fibers.

Wolman's Deck Brightener, sodium percarbonate, is an oxygenated bleach, similar to oxy-clean, and has been formulated for wood cleaning. It will kill algae and mildew. And it's environmentally friendly.

Thompson's water seal is the last sealer a professional will use on wood. It is wax-based and eventually builds up and turns into a dirt magnet.

Here is a forum created by and used by professionals:

http://www.deckcare.org/forums/index.php?

fred
Deck-Kleen Powerwashing

I see professional deck restorers use HP spray to clean decks all the time. If your deck isn't very dirty, then you could probably use a low pressure home style washer.

I'll reserve comment on thompsons, since we've used it for many many years without issue.

I used Behr deck cleaner and brightner at someone's suggestion and it worked great. I forget what it has in it but it worked great.

As far as Thompsons goes, might as well just give your money to the homeless guy on the corner. They make so much money on it because you have to constantly keep applying it. Sure, it "looks good" at first but it's not worth the can it comes in.

With pressure washing, I found the lowest setting that works is the best. You can do some damage with the wrong tip.

I can't remember what's in the Behr either. You really have to read the fine print and put aside any that contain sodium hypochlorite (BLEACH). It will bleach the natural color right out of the wood. Another example - Floods cleaner/brightener is Oxalic acid, great for redwood and cedar, only fair for pt wood and needs special consideration due to crystalizing.
The sodium percarb cleaners are the best to use for just cleaning.
Stripping old stains, etc. is a whole different ballgame.

fred

That's it, Oxalic acid! I have cedar decking and it does the trick.