New pressure treated wood

[ocala]

Hey guys.
Just got done ripping up my decks. Put down new PT wood. It was done in stages so after the wood was screwed down it sat untreated from 2 weeks to a month. I put an oil base stain on and it looked beautiful. Problem is after about 2-3 weeks water doesn't beed up on it anymore. Why is this?
I called the manufacturer, Olympic, and they didn't have an answer either.
Please tell me I didn't screw up somehow.

[LCHIEN]

i'm confused...
Is it pressure treated wood that comes that way (CCA or ACQ impregnated under pressure) in which case how can it be put down two weeks before being treated.

Or, did you just use ordinary lumber, then treated it with wood preservative like Thompsons Water Seal or the Olympic equivalent, in which case its not really "Pressure" Treated.

or did you put water seal on PT wood?

[ocala]

Yes, it regular PT wood. I meant that I didn't stain it until about 2 weeks after it was screwed in.

[Hellrazor]

Was your PT stamped KDAT by any chance? Kiln dried PT tends to really soak up whatever you put on it.

[ocala]

Not sure. I sanded off all the stamps when I was done. I did find a part of a board I cut in half that either said "STAND KDHT" or "STAND KDIIT"

[dlminehart]

I'm a neophyte to decks, but isn't it the case that only the posts, and any beams within about a foot of the ground, actually need to be done using PT wood? Isn't the PT primarily to fend off stuff like termites and fungus that come from the ground? Or maybe your deck is a really low one?

[ocala]

I live in North Central Florida and the summer time sun is a killer. Not to mention the heavy rain and yes, bugs too. The decks are about 80% exposed to the sun and those UV rays will deteriorate the wood very quickly. The PT helps it last longer then standard wood.

[Hellrazor]

KDAT = Kiln dried after treatment.
KDHT = Kiln dried heat treated

[Hellrazor]

I'm a neophyte to decks, but isn't it the case that only the posts, and any beams within about a foot of the ground, actually need to be done using PT wood? Isn't the PT primarily to fend off stuff like termites and fungus that come from the ground? Or maybe your deck is a really low one?

You west coasters have redwood to play with. Us poor east coast people only have PT or cedar.

I frame everything with PT and then use 5/4 bullnose PT, cedar or composites for the decking. I prefer KDAT for framing of decks.

[docrowan]

In Mississippi, I'd use PT or exterior grade for everything that will stay outside. I wouldn't want to run the risk of giving termites a foothold.

Is KDAT available at the BORG? I haven't had cause to build anything with it yet, but idle shopping hasn't revealed any to me.

[dlminehart]

Well, I still don't see how PT would help fend off UV damage. After all, it's just a chemical toxic to lower life forms but not to us superior creatures, right? And the pressure just forces the chemical deeper into the wood. As for using PT for everything outside . . . I don't think they use it for framing houses, roof studs, and the like. Only sill plates and stuff close to the ground.

[Hellrazor]

Is KDAT available at the BORG? I haven't had cause to build anything with it yet, but idle shopping hasn't revealed any to me.

I buy that at a lumber yard. I never noticed that any of the box stores carry it.

[Hellrazor]

I don't think they use it for framing houses, roof studs, and the like. Only sill plates and stuff close to the ground.

It is used for sill plates on home construction. It can be used for rim joists when a split level house is too close to grade. House framing, trusses, etc are all protected by the weatherproofing of the siding & roofing materials.

[jhart]

Ocala

Just restained my deck with the Olympic a couple of weeks ago (built 8 years ago and restained a couple of times since then) and the same thing happens on mine. Parts of it will still bead up, but most of it doesn't anymore. Seems like it soaks in. Still seems to give protection though. Haven't had any rotting/problems since building it.