Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Outdoor wood maintenance with preservative/sealant/water repellant?
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syaddula
04-29-09, 03:19 PM
I had a wooden retaining wall built last summer around a flag stone stair case in my garden. The wood on the retaining wall is treated wood and meant for ground contact. I see that after one winter the paint on the retaining wall is already coming off.
Could I get suggestions on how to maintain the wood? Wood preservative/water repellant/wood sealant?
Could I get suggestions on how to maintain the wood? Wood preservative/water repellant/wood sealant?
lefty
04-29-09, 03:52 PM
syaddula,
Welcome to the forums.
Any paint, sealer, etc. that you put on the wall will only be applied to the area that you can see. The part of the wall that will rot is what is in contact with the soil -- the part you can't see. It's wood in contact with dirt -- don't expect it to last very may years.
Welcome to the forums.
Any paint, sealer, etc. that you put on the wall will only be applied to the area that you can see. The part of the wall that will rot is what is in contact with the soil -- the part you can't see. It's wood in contact with dirt -- don't expect it to last very may years.
syaddula
05-01-09, 01:35 PM
Thank you.
I do not have wood below soil in this case. One side of the retaining wall touches earth though. Now, the outside itself seems pretty worked up due to harsh winter. Is there something I could do to protect the wood? Some suggested to apply wood preservative/sealant/weather resistant paint.
I do not have wood below soil in this case. One side of the retaining wall touches earth though. Now, the outside itself seems pretty worked up due to harsh winter. Is there something I could do to protect the wood? Some suggested to apply wood preservative/sealant/weather resistant paint.
Gunguy45
05-01-09, 02:12 PM
It may have just been painted too early after installation. Treated wood can take quite a while to completely dry, esp in a humid area like MD. I lived in VA for almost 20 yrs, so I can relate.
How long after construction was the paint applied, and what kind of paint was used if you know?
How long after construction was the paint applied, and what kind of paint was used if you know?
lefty
05-01-09, 02:44 PM
Like Gunguy45 said, it may have been painted too soon after it was installed. A good extrior paint on a good primer will probably last longer this time around, since the wood has had some time to dry.
That will improve the looks of the side that's visible. But it's the side of the wall that has the dirt against it that will rot first, due to the earth-to-wood contact involved.
That will improve the looks of the side that's visible. But it's the side of the wall that has the dirt against it that will rot first, due to the earth-to-wood contact involved.
marksr
05-01-09, 03:16 PM
The backside of the wall can also cause the paint failure. Any moisture that passes thru the wall from behind will lift any coating that is applied to the face.
syaddula
05-06-09, 08:03 AM
Thanks again for your replies.
The paint was applied a week after they were laid and it was summer.
Is applying wood sealant/preservative/primer/paint (or a combination of these) a good thing to do given the condition? And, is there a best of the year to do this?
The paint was applied a week after they were laid and it was summer.
Is applying wood sealant/preservative/primer/paint (or a combination of these) a good thing to do given the condition? And, is there a best of the year to do this?