Use And Care Manual

Pressure treating lumber forces preservatives deep
into the wood bers leaving the wood clean, workable,
and highly durable – ideally suited for outdoor projects
like decks, docks, swing sets and fences what’s more,
carries a Lifetime Limited Warranty against damage
caused by rot and decay. Wood is a renewable resource
that is an excellent choice for outdoor projects, however
when something is built with wood (pressure treated
or not) and exposed to the weather certain inherent
properties of the wood become evident. Treated or
untreated wood may warp, twist or cup in varying
degrees, depending on stresses released by moisture
changes. Similarly, lumber may develop surface checks,
splits or sap may exude as the wood seasons. These
are not defects but natural tendencies. Left unprotected
or unrestrained, all wood is likely to exhibit these
tendencies. While pressure treating does not warrant
against such natural occurrences, there are measures
to greatly reduce there likelihood. Proper application of
materials, workmanship and maintenance are keys to
any successful project.
The pressure treating process forces preservatives and
water deep into the wood cells causing the wood to swell.
During the drying out process, the wood may experience
varying degrees of moisture, causing slight variations in
A high percentage of warping and twisting can be avoided
with proper fastening. We recommend fastening with
stainless steel or triple coated deck screws. These fasteners
are designed for superior holding power restraining wood
movement to limit twisting or warping. Use the proper
length of screw and when screwing close to ends of boards
drill pilot holes to minimize cracking and splitting. PL-500
lumber adhesive, specically formulated for treated lumber,
helps minimize cupping and warping by providing a strong
durable bond.
Any exposed wood, pressure treated or not, should be
protected from the weather. Application of a quality clear
water repellent or semi-transparent stain, which contains
water repellent, will help minimize the effects (checking,
cupping & warping) caused by the cycles of moisture
take-up and loss the wood goes through outdoors. First,
determine if the product has been pressure treated with a
factory applied water repellent by looking at the end tag. If
not factory water repellent treated, thoroughly clean your
project with a deck cleaning product. Clear water repellent
can be immediately applied to your deck or other project
and is highly recommended. If you choose to use a semi-
transparent stain which contains a water repellent, you
need to rst check that your project is surface dry. Either
wait until the surface is dry or immediately apply clear
water repellent and wait approximately 8 weeks and then
apply your chosen color of semi transparent stain.
If the products contain a factory water repellent, an oil
based stain can be applied in 30 - 60 days and water
based stains can be applied after 6 months. Check that the
wood is surface dry before applying stain. In all instances
follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying water
repellents or semi-transparent stains which may contain
water repellent.
Sap is naturally occurring in wood and is set in the wood
during the manufacturing process at the lumber mills.
Extreme weather conditions allowing boards to heat up
excessively over a prolong period of time may cause the
sap remaining in a piece of lumber to run or ooze out
of the wood. Direct sunlight can affect and inuence this
occurrence. Dark stain colors may possibly allow the wood
to absorb more heat, contributing to sap presence. Factors
affecting cooling airow, such as too little space between
deck boards, completely closing in the bottom of a deck
with no ventilation installed, obstructions from bushes or
shrubs could also negatively affect the deck surface allowing
heat build up, and the appearance of sap. Eventually most
sap will come out of the wood, but this may take a season
or two and some clean up. (Continued on back)
Deck Board Spacing
Fasteners
Sealing or Applying a
Weather-Resistant Finish
Removing Sap
thickness and width (up to ½” in wider boards) between
pieces of wood. Generally speaking, this drying and
shrinking does not interfere with the construction process,
but may require some amount of planning to determine
whether possible shrinkage of the wood products will
affect your particular project. Exposing wood to the
elements will also cause swelling and shrinking. Allowing the
boards to acclimate or dry out some prior to construction
may be part of that plan. It is never recommended to
plane a piece of treated lumber to attempt to match the
size of another piece.
DRAFT 4/10/13