Cypress post or pressure treated

[EddieWalker]

Be sure to read the labels on whatever you get. "Pressure Treated" no longer means it's rated for ground contact automatically. I bought some PT 2x4s and plywood with the intention of building a gas can locker outside the barn. Basically a large foot locker where the top and front open and elevated off the ground with said 2x4s on end. As I was getting ready to start cutting, I started pulling the staples and labels off the ends. Previously, I just pitched them but they were a different color than they used to be. I looked at one and in bold letters it said; "Not for ground contact". That was a bummer.

Apparently, there's now different classes of pressure treated lumber. IIRC, it's a number scale and only the high number is rated for ground contact. I'll have to re-educate myself before heading back to get "ground contact" lumber. :ashamed:

I suspect our Govment had a lot to do with this in an effort to protect us.

All the posts, 4x4 and bigger are rated for ground contact. I've never seen 1x or 2x lumber that was rated for ground contact at any of the stores I go to, but have heard you can special order it. For posts that go into lakes, there is another rating that is needed that is a higher concentrate then ground contact. The ones I've seen are all round posts. While the government did mess up the chemicals used to treat the wood, the ratings have always been there. I feel the use of zinc requires so much more water in the wood, that it's why there is so much shrinkage and warping then before. Used to be a 4x6 was always gonna remain straight, now I see them bending as bad as 4x4's and the 6x6s are iffy. I've had 12 foot long 2x6's shrink as much as 3/4 of an inch shorter in a year after installing them on a deck. Now I have to tell clients to expect this when I'm giving them a bid and tell them that I'll come back and replace the wood for them, or fill the gaps with bondo and sand it all down. This is in addition to the job and there is no guarantee that the replacement lumber wont shrink in a years time.

 

[rd_macgregor]

It is too bad Osage Orange doesn't very often have a growth form suited to making posts; I understand it is one of the most rot-resistant woods around (ie, 30- to 50-year in-ground lifespan of a post).

 

[Sawyer Rob]

When it comes to PT lumber spec., .40 is normally flat lumber, .60 is in ground, like 4x4's ect... .80 spec. is for marine use, or docks ect...

That same spec. has always been used, and generally there's a tag on the end of the piece, with the spec. number on it.

IF "I" am the one building a post building, it's getting .60 spec. lumber not .40....

SR

 

[roadhunter]

There is a reason pressure treated line posts are $4 or $5 each and the same post in QNAP, Penta, or Creosote is around $10 or more.

Water based pressure treatment that you find at the lumber yard is simply not as good. We have all 3 types of treatment plants here (but no creosote) and it's really interesting looking at the differences. For example the QNAP plant requires steel banding on bunks because that is a high temperature process as opposed to the water based pressure treatment which is not so plastic banding can be used. The railroad uses all QNAP treatment timbers for bridges and such. The Plant that used penta primarily does telephone poles.

If you are looking for superior durability try something other than the standard pressure treatment. The ranchers around here are really picky and prefer the QNAP to just about everything.

 

[/pine]

Bald Cypress is susceptible to subterranean termites...so any ground contact is not recommended...however (bald) cypress when used for siding (lap, board and batted etc...) it will last for virtually ever...even unpainted etc...if left natural it will develop a natural grey patina that is very desirable for a rustic appearance...

 

[rickyb01]

Just called a company here is Arkansas that still offers true CCA .60 5x5 treated post. I was going with 6x6's but they only go up to 5x5. Looking at HD and Lowes they offer .15 but don't remember what they are treated with. I know I'm not comparing apples to apples because the box stores use a different treatment but I think the .60 CCA is superior to the box stores. Anybody know for sure?

 

[Egon]

A little off topic but in a time long past polar posts were set upright in barrels filled with water and bluestone. They lasted well.

 

[CCWKen]

Well, I don't know when the change happened but I bought all the lumber for my pole barn and 3-sided shed at Home Depot. It was all CCA including the 2x4s and 2x6s. In fact I'm dreading a few changes I want to make to the barn since I used screws to put it together. Any one that's tried removing 3" screws from dried CCA knows what I'm talking about. Dumb me just waltzed through on the last trip and saw PT lumber and thought it was the same as the old stuff. I wasn't aware of any classes then. And it sure wasn't sold like that when I bought the barn wood. CCA was all they sold then. Every time I went for a load, I made sure I had my gloves.

 

[rickyb01]

Looks like the box stores use .15 Copper Azole

 

[roadhunter]

A little off topic but in a time long pasted polar posts were set upright in barrels filled with water and bluestone. They lasted well.

That's what a lo to guys used to do around here but they used Pebta. You can still buy Penta for pesticide applications if you have an applicators license.