The wifey wants a pond sitting area built. It is going to be 8 x 20 and have 4x4 posts with lattice work as the panels. 3 sided and the forth to have 4' to leave an 12' opening. My question is the material. I know I can use the "treated" lumber for this, but the cost is scary for what it will be used for. Would I have to do something besides paint untreated posts and exposed wood to make it last. Any suggestions etc would be greatly appreciated. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Pond, sitting area project
- Thread starter DannyD
- Start date
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RobS
Super Member
Hi Danny and welcome from an ex-fellow Hoosier.
You could use a trick the pole barn builders use to save money. Use treated wood for the portion of the post below ground and use plain lumber for above. The pole barn posts are usually laminated from several layers of two-by so they just stagger the joints between the treated an not. For your use, you could use a half lap joint. You'll likely spend as much in primer and paint though as what you'll save in the untreated unless you were going to paint it anyway.
Where in Indiana? I grew up in Indy, now live just across the northern state line /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
You could use a trick the pole barn builders use to save money. Use treated wood for the portion of the post below ground and use plain lumber for above. The pole barn posts are usually laminated from several layers of two-by so they just stagger the joints between the treated an not. For your use, you could use a half lap joint. You'll likely spend as much in primer and paint though as what you'll save in the untreated unless you were going to paint it anyway.
Where in Indiana? I grew up in Indy, now live just across the northern state line /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Rob,
I know about the pole barn thing, mine has 4 x 6 treated posts all the way to the top. Just built that.
On the sitting area, the posts will be 3 feet in the ground, and 8 feet above. With treated lumber I am looking at around 750.00 to buy the lumber. I could get by with 400.00 and then paint the thing, which would be done at some time anyway. I may wind up soaking the bottom of the 4 x 4's in some Thompsons that I have and painting the top. I am going to have 2 x 12's around the top of the perimeter, and 2 x 12's across the top as support for "things" ...... porch swing for one.
The lattice is as much as the rest at 13.00 plus a sheet, and I need 8 of them.
I live in Georgetown, IN, just north and west of Louisville, KY. Been here 12.5 years and moved here from Louisville. I say I moved to the promised land.
We have friends in Grand Rapids MI. Been there once, loved it in late summer..........I hate heat!
I know about the pole barn thing, mine has 4 x 6 treated posts all the way to the top. Just built that.
On the sitting area, the posts will be 3 feet in the ground, and 8 feet above. With treated lumber I am looking at around 750.00 to buy the lumber. I could get by with 400.00 and then paint the thing, which would be done at some time anyway. I may wind up soaking the bottom of the 4 x 4's in some Thompsons that I have and painting the top. I am going to have 2 x 12's around the top of the perimeter, and 2 x 12's across the top as support for "things" ...... porch swing for one.
The lattice is as much as the rest at 13.00 plus a sheet, and I need 8 of them.
I live in Georgetown, IN, just north and west of Louisville, KY. Been here 12.5 years and moved here from Louisville. I say I moved to the promised land.
We have friends in Grand Rapids MI. Been there once, loved it in late summer..........I hate heat!