Lumber Distortion

Scott Young

i am stepping up the ladder in deck building. most of the decks i build are along the lines of pool sides, backyard platforms, stoops off the house for entrance passages, etc. all of them have been utilitarian at best. the only flare has been the different levels, shapes, and railings. it hasn't been until lately i have been building trelleses, gazeboes, and swing arbors. i still don't know all the names of the structures, such as pergola, which i just learned that term, though i have built them from pictures.

i have been purchasing, as of late, deck books looking for designs and details. there are some fine looking decks and structures. there are several questions i have concerning some of the features that i have seen on the decks.

1. How do you keep the lumber that is long and unsupported from distortion?

2. How do you keep the larger lumber from splitting and or twisting? There is a deck on one of the houses that i am working on that has 6x6 treated posts that has one with a 1/2 inch split in one side that is very unsightly and another that has twisted in the extremes of south mississippi.

I know in a perfect world starting with dry lumber will help, but with the lumber that is available down here the treated lumber is delivered soaking wet. many places fuss when you bring back badly distorted lumber blaming the customer for bad storage. also, with the time it takes to air dry lumber for a deck, purchase time and restocking time can be a long time causing the lumber yard to frown on you.

thank yall for your input. i really enjoy building decks that don't surround a trailer house (im not knocking trailers, i lived in them for 10 years out of the last 13).

Joe Wood

Scott, one reason your lumber is doing the wild thing on you is because most of it is from young, fast grown trees. Good example is all the redwood being sold today.

It's important that you choose your stock by the grain orientation. Especially important to not have the heart (*bullseye) in the boards, especially your post and beam stock.

here's a little graphic I made up that might help.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Joe Wood

(did I check that Instant Email Notification Box??)