FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Treated Clear Southern Yellow Pine vs. Tight-knott cedar decking

user-2409187 | Posted in General Discussion on September 8, 2017 06:02am

I have a question: What is your experience with clear (knott-free) Souther Yellow Pine deck boards, face-screwed to treated SYP framing spaced 16″ OC?  The deck is not shaded and sustains hours of full sun light. The current composite Fiberon brand decking has badly faded despite a 20 yr fade warranty. The dark color my client selected is partly to blame.

For various reasons composite decking is not an option. The choices are face-screwedd 1) regular pt. SYPine decking, 2) clear, p.treated, SYPine or 3) tight-knott cedar. Which product, cedar or clear treated SYP holds up better in the condition described above? Cedar will receive a clear sealant coating.

Thank you. 

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. oldhand | Sep 13, 2017 10:05am | #1

    No help but a short rant....

    I would favor SYP. My experiences are that grades are only a number, every batch of SYP RED will be different. I like to see the stack before ordering.

    But [inserting rant here] I find peoples expectations of wood that is constantly exposed to the weather to often be unreasonable. Annoying even. 

    Here's the deal: this is a deck. It is made of wood or other material left outdoors 24/7. Since it is subject to such exposure weathering is to be expected, if you can't embrace that you need to readjust your expectations to reflect reality.

    Why does everthing have to look shiny new? Silly cultural predjudices brought to you by generations of people selling dreams.... 

    Rest assured user 2409187 I'm not pickin' on you or even your customer but the system that has created this attitude.

    1. User avater
      user-2409187 | Sep 20, 2017 12:50pm | #2

      Thanks

      I know...I know...sigh :) But...this good client paid $10K shekels and the deck did not match the warranty set forth...so...I feel for my client. He deserves better. But what shape shall "better" take this time around. And since I am paying to have it redone (manufacturer went belly-up, I believe), I want to make sure that my promises this time around matches the expectations. So..um...thanks for your pointers. I elected to not go with 20' long special order Premium SYP planks, since I can't see them and they are non-returnable. I'm going to sort through the local supply of 16' long Prem. selection, which happens to be super dry. I'll coat the underside and edges "just to play it safe". The top gets a semi-transp. finish, which is mostly for looks. I will keep an eye on the deck and re-coat as needed. My motto: Our aim is to offer exceptional service; at a profit if we can, and at a loss if we must, but always exceptional service."  (Hey, Donald, you listening? :)

      1. oldhand | Sep 21, 2017 04:32pm | #3

        one other suggestion..

        I think for micronized copper or copper azole treated SYP you must retreat all field cuts with copper napthenate or some such. Those treatments just don't seem to carry very far into the wood.

  2. finefinish | Sep 22, 2017 08:40am | #4

    HI Mel, I have used 5/4"x 6"

    HI Mel, I have used 5/4"x 6" western red cedar (tight knots) for quite a few decks including my own.  It is less expensive than PT in my locale, is very stable and seems to be holding up beautifully.  Mine is 6 years old with no finish and has a soft gray color.  It is, as you know, very soft so it scratches and dents easily, but it stlll looks and feels great underfoot.  PT in my experience looks awful, cups, splits, warps, and gives nasty splinters.  Mahogany and cedar are my go-tos...  Good luck.  

    1. User avater
      user-2409187 | Sep 24, 2017 06:39pm | #5

      5/4 x6 cedar

      Thanks for the comments. I am aware of cedar's stability. Do any of your decks get the full force of a midWest summer sun from dawn to dusk? That is my main concern. Do the knots shrink and come out? My only cedar deck is deep in the woods, with constant shade all around. I know that cedar can be periodically cleaned and refinished.  I think my BIG question about Premium 5/4 treated SYP is this: will it crack on the ends...in the middle?  By "premium" I mean boards that are practically free of knots and the grain minimizes cupping. The deck is well ventillated. Keep in mind that I will use face screws and that my framing is 16" OC.  Thanks for any insight you/others may have to share.

      1. finefinish | Sep 25, 2017 09:33pm | #6

        Hey Mel,  My deck gets blasted by sun all day in New England.  Right now the cedar is looking great, but maybe a little thirsty.  Before the weather turns I am going to give it a light sanding and probably use clear Arborcoat on it.  It has stayed very flat through it's time outside in our harsh environment.  I really can't speak from experience about Premiun yellow pine decking, but I have never seen a PT deck that weathered well...   I will be curious to hear feedback on what you decide and how it's holding up in a year or 2.  Good luck.  

        1. User avater
          user-2409187 | Sep 26, 2017 09:57am | #7

          another look at cedar

          Thanks for continuing the discussion. I took another look at a cedar deck I built in the woods some 10+ years ago. It received a clear-coat finish. The owner did not maintain it. Two boards need replacement, but otherwise the deck looks good. The boards have a few cracks at the ends, but nothing visually annoying. I'll clean it and make a few repairs, then seal it. I am tempted to do this forthcoming deck in cedar, since cleaning, light sanding, and re-staining seem to work very well.  The attached photo shows a FibreOne composite deck that has "gone south": badly faded. I know there are superior products now on the market, yet I remain deeply annoyed by the loss of color in composite decks. This particular deck cost $15K and my client deserves a product that looks good....sigh.

          File format

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

A Classic Paint Sprayer Gets a Thoughtful Refresh

The Titan Impact X 440 offers great coverage with minimal overspray.

Featured Video

SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than Before

The 10-in. Jobsite Saw PRO has a wider table, a new dust-control port, and a more versatile fence, along with the same reliable safety mechanism included in all SawStop tablesaws.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 693: Old-House Hazards, Building Larsen Trusses, AI in Construction
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper
  • A Classic Paint Sprayer Gets a Thoughtful Refresh
  • Podcast Episode 692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data