Yes! You can treat untreated wood to make it weather resistant and more durable. You'll need to purchase a sealant and apply it to the surface before letting the wood dry.
Using untreated wood for outdoor decks is not advisable because it is susceptible to rot and decay when exposed to moisture and other elements. Over time, untreated wood can become weak and unstable, posing a safety hazard for outdoor deck use or any other outdoor projects.
To treat untreated wood for outdoor use, you need to apply the treatment. This treatment contains chemicals that can make the wood shrug off insects and harsh weather. The best option you have to treat wood for outdoor use is pine tar. It's a popular option as it can provide a stain-like finish.
The outdoor elements can take a toll on wood and make it look less than pristine. Pressure treatment helps protect wood from rot and insects with the help of high pressure and preservatives, helping to extend its life. Generally, pressure-treated wood can last anywhere from 10 to 40 years, depending on a few factors.
How Long Does Pressure-Treated Wood Last? It depends on the climate, the type of wood, its uses, and how well it's maintained. While pressure treated poles can stay up to 40 years without any signs of rot or decay, decks and flooring might only last around 10 years.
Use an outdoor-rated finish like polyurethane, epoxy, lacquer, or varnish. Make a natural oil finish with one part tung or linseed oil, one part mineral spirits, and one part polyurethane. Use a stain sealant combo that gives your wood some color and a durable finish all in one.
Wood can Start to Rot in 1-3 Years If:
Wood is untreated. The wooded area is in a hot climate. The wooded area is not painted with the proper paint. Wood collects water on a frequent basis (from rainfall, leak in plumbing pipes, or sprinklers)
The effect of leaving pressure-treated wood in the rain depends on whether or not it's already been stained. If it has, then it's no different than rain on a wooden structure. However, if it hasn't been stained yet, this causes a problem because you won't be able to stain it properly until it's dried out.
Once installed, pressure treated lumber can last for many years submerged in water, and unlike steel it is not vulnerable to corrosion or electrochemical reactions, and it can last as long or longer than naturally moisture-resistant wood species.
While a treated 4x4 may last 10 to 25 years, depending on the wood, the soil, and weather conditions, following the simple steps below could double or triple that number. By comparison, an untreated wood fence post may need replacing in as little as five years.
Storing dry lumber outdoors should be avoided at all costs. The outside elements include water and drastic changes in temperature.
Since it's widely available, fir can be useful for those running a slightly tighter budget. It's one of the cheapest woods for outdoor use. If you're a woodworker or DIY garden furniture maker, this species also works and machines well, in addition to holding finishes easily — whether a clear varnish, stain or paint.
While redwood or teak certainly qualify, five more common lumber species that also stand up well to sunlight, moisture and wood-boring insects are Western red cedar, Spanish cedar, cypress, white oak and mahogany. Red cedar tends to be knotty, but it's affordable and widely available.
It's better to use treated lumber and know your deck will be secure in a few years than try to use untreated wood for the supports and watch them rot away rapidly.
Although treated wood is protected against decay and termite attack, the application of a water-repellent sealer to all exposed wood surfaces is recommended upon completion of construction. This sealer will help control surface checking (splitting or cracking) and provide an attractive appearance.
But don't worry, framing material is made to withstand exposure to moisture. In fact, the glues used to manufacture OSB (Oriented Strand Board) are water-resistant. Even loose lumber not treated in any way will be fine; provided it has an opportunity to dry out before covering with drywall.
Pressure treated wood needs time to dry out before it's primed or painted. You can expect 3-4 months before the moisture levels fully go down. If moisture beads up on the surface, it's still too damp. You'll know the treated wood is ready to paint when it absorbs water instead of repelling it.
Place a cover tarp loosely over the lumber stack so that air can circulate freely – don't wrap the stack tightly in plastic, since this will trap moisture from the wood under the tarp.
Pressure-treated wood contains preservatives to prevent rot and insect damage, but it remains vulnerable to the sun, wind, moisture and dirt. Learning how to stain pressure-treated wood can extend the life and improve its appearance.
Pressure-treated wood is as susceptible to damage from the sun, rain, and other outdoor elements as non-treated wood. But you can prevent that from happening. Staining pressure-treated lumber prevents cracks and splits caused by seasonal changes, prolongs its life, and preserves its natural beauty.
Rot is a Real Threat for Any Wood
Pressure-treating can make wood water-resistant, but it's not 100 percent rot-resistant. Any time the wood moves, bends, or cracks, water can enter. While this may seem worrisome, the key is to keep the water away.
Which Wood Lasts the Longest? Teak wood easily lasts the longest when used for outdoor furniture or decking. When properly maintained, it can last for the entirety of your life and years after.
Purchase a wood preservative that contains copper naphthenate at a lumberyard or hardware store. Pour about 1⁄2 litre (0.53 qt) of it into a large bucket. Set the end of your post that you'll bury in the ground into the bucket and let it soak for 15–20 minutes.
You simply soak the lumber in the borate solution. Most people just build a trough using 6-mil plastic sheeting. The different borate chemicals come with instructions telling you how to mix the powder with water and how long to soak the lumber.