Untreated wood is the most susceptible to rot, fungi, and general weathering. It's extremely important that you use a wood preservative first. You can either use a wax enriched preservative for an all-round coating or alternatively use a wax-free preserver if you want to then use a stain or a paint on top.
The obvious advantage of using untreated lumber is that there are no health risks involved. It's as close to wood in its natural form as you're going to get without grabbing an axe and chopping down your own tree.
Untreated lumber, such as pine, is the least durable . It will warp and begin to rot within three to five years. Cedar and redwood are naturally resistant to both rot and insect infestations, which is why they're often used for decks and fences.
Use pressure treated wood in any situation where there's direct contact between the wood and anything that could supply moisture. This means posts in contact or buried underground obviously, but it also includes any lumber touching concrete or masonry since it's porous and wicks water like a sponge.
Ground-contact lumber is, as the name suggests, suitable for contact with the ground. It's commonly used for pressure-treated posts and some framing. Containing a greater amount of chemical treatment, these wood products can last much longer than aboveground lumber, and up to 40 years, in some cases.
With traditional wood, the answer to “how long does decking last?” is: Not very long. THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A WOOD DECK: Typically 10 to 15 years. The actual lifespan of your wood deck will depend on the type of wood you've chosen and how well you keep up with wood's rigorous maintenance schedule.
Wet rot is decay that occurs in untreated wood that is routinely exposed to water or high moisture levels. The moist wood attracts a fungus that feeds on it and grows. Although most decks are built with pressure-treated lumber, they can still get wet rot.
Pine tar is one of the best protective products for any wood surface. It creates a breathable wood surface. One of its benefits is that it won't trap moisture. We recommend mixing authentic pine tar with purified linseed oil.
Storing dry lumber outdoors should be avoided at all costs. The outside elements include water and drastic changes in temperature.
Untreated Wood
Left in their natural, unfinished state, most woods deteriorate quickly when exposed to outdoor environments. However, there are several species that have naturally occurring chemicals that help them shrug off harsh weather and insects.
For raw lumber, check for a tag on the end. Most pressure-treated lumber has a tag stapled to the end that tells you what kind of material you have. Similar to the above—look for any stamps or markings on the wood that indicate it is pressure treated.
Luckily, you've got a couple options! Shellac is the best natural wood finish when a hard, durable coating is needed to protect the wood. 100% oils, on the other hand, are perfect for cutting boards and other projects that benefit from a finish that soaks into the wood.
Even loose lumber not treated in any way will be fine; provided it has an opportunity to dry out before covering with drywall. To minimize and eliminate any potential damage to the material, it is important to remove any standing water on the sub floor. This will help the water to dissipate quicker.
For example, Teak doesn't need any treatment which prolongs its lifespan because it is naturally durable and doesn't have much movement whereas kiln dried Oak does need treating to prevent it from: Losing moisture and shrinking in the summer.
How to kill the fungus that causes wood rot. Boric acid (borate) is one of the most effective fungicides for use in treating wood rot. It can be applied to wood during construction to prevent future rot, or as a treatment to stop an active decay fungus from growing.
One popular remedy for wood rot is vinegar because vinegar's acidity has the ability to act as a fungicide that kills off fungal spores.
Unlike wet rot which can be eliminated by finding the source of moisture, dry rot will continue growing even when you've dried out the area. Once it gets going, dry rot can feed on the moisture in the timber. So as long as you have timber, it has food!
Lab experiments have recorded that dry rot spores can germinate approximately seven to ten days after the wood has become damp enough. Older spores can take longer to germinate. As mentioned earlier, though, it can take a long while for signs of dry rot to appear after germination.
Wood from trees, like stumps, branches, and limbs will take a very long time to decompose, upwards of 50-100 years if left whole. This is why for composting it's best to chip the wood.
One of the main differences between wet rot and dry rot is that wet rot needs a higher moisture content to grow. Wet rot fungus likes to grow on timber with a high moisture content of around 50% and above while for dry rot to grow it will germinate at a lower timber moisture content of around 20% to 30%.
However, choosing not to stain or paint the deck is simply a preference of the homeowner. The effects that can occur due to a lack of treatment are aesthetic in nature. After 6 months, the wood will start to lose its color and will begin to fade. Ultimately it will fade to grey or silver.
It may be many years before an untreated deck becomes completely unusable. However, a deck that is properly sealed and maintained with a yearly maintenance program consistently outlive a deck that is left to its own devices by a significant margin.
If your deck sealant has worn off, the wood underneath can fade rapidly due to UV rays. Rain: Excess moisture is the enemy of decks everywhere. As rain penetrates small cracks in the wood, decks can start to rot. Mold and mildew issues are common results of leaving a deck without a dependable wood sealer.