Thanks in advance…
I’ve recently purchased 3″x11″x16′ boards that may be pine or fir but are construction grade. I’m considering resawing and surfacing the boards and using them to rebuild a deck in the back yard. I’ve just finished reading a website that reccomends pressure treated, cypress, redwood, or cedar but not other woods because of rot and decay issues.
Would you reccomend building this deck and if so what finishing should I do. Would I seal all surfaces before building?
Andy Esarte
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Replies
I would not recommend building this deck with the wood you have. Instead, use the wood(s) you mentioned.
Trying to use an interior-grade wood for exterior uses is a bad idea; eventually even with a sealant, standing water will degrade the pine/fir.
I agree, that you should use a decking product. I would not include a few that you listed for decking though. Cypress is much more of a lawn furniture type of would, unless you live in florida, it is probably pretty expensive. Also I would not recommend cedar. Cedar is excellent in detering rot but it is a soft wood and does not do very well for decking. I've used cedar for rails and posts but not for the surface. If any one ever walked on it with high heels or other hard bottomed shoes, they would leave marks at the minimum and divots with high heels. I also think pressure treated is crap. Use it for the framing but it stink for the surface. It looks like crap, dries, cracks and is likely to be full of splinters, so no bare feet. I would recommend mahogany (the decking grade) or Ipe. Ipe is tough to work with because it is so dense and heavy but it is excellent looking, will last forever and is very maintainance free. Do a search of this forum for Ipe and decking ideas and you'll get some good info. Also, fine homebuilding did an article on decking material choices a few years ago, you might want to see which back issue that was and either buy it or check it out at the local library.