Cedar Deck Boards Rotting

This creates a 1 8 inch wide gap that forms a collection zone between boards and on top of every joist.

Cedar deck boards rotting.

Deck boards many carpenters use 16 penny nails to space deck boards. Cedar decking is a naturally rot resistant wood which turns gray once you allow it to sit in the sun. And once the organic matter is in there it can induce rot in the deck boards and in the joists below. Rinse and let dry.

Radius edged cedar pressure treated and composite decking share similarities. Deck joists rotting from the top edge down because the deck boards and debris keep them damp for weeks after rain. However some woods have superior rot resistance naturally and can be used outdoors without chemical treatment. Last summer i helped a carpenter buddy tear out a rotten deck.

All three choices 5 4 x 6 in. If the existing decking is gray weather the new decking with a solution made from 1 cup of baking soda and 1 gallon of warm water. While stripping he began to uncover soft spots and rot areas in the rails benches and steps. But my friend wasn t.

Natural wood is a lovely choice for adding warmth and texture to garden structures like raised beds fences decks and trellises. Similar to an epoxy filler or joint compound wood fillers come in. They re all rot resistant to varying degrees require 16 in. He sees it all the time.

Much lumber is chemically treated to prevent it from rotting. Cedar deck board 10 dimensional lumber 74 softwood board 65 timber 41 nominal thickness x width. Apply in the solution with a scrub brush. Cedar is a softwood that is reddish brown in color and is naturally resistant to rot and decay.

There are other types of materials available that will be less maintenance intense but cedar. Nonetheless a wood deck by its very nature will always be susceptible to moisture and rot. The joists were pressure treated lumber so i was surprised at how badly decayed they were. Probably the most difficult decision to make when building a wood deck is what type of decking to use.

It s nearly impossible to remove leaf litter from such a narrow gap. Joist spacing for. Another way to prevent your deck from rotting is to build it with redwood mahogany cypress or cedar each of which are among the most rot resistant species of natural wood. Whether your deck is pitted with small nail holes or deeper areas of rot you can repair the damage with a wood filler product.