Pressure treated and cedar - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

pfloyd · 05-27-2008, 09:38 PM

What do you pro deck guys use on cedar decks for structural when its visible from underneath? The pressure treated green obviously wont match cedar for color. I have a line on excellent rough sawn fir from the mill which color wise is very close to cedar planks. I did a deck (on the cheap, as per the client request) with it and stained it twice with cedar oil (with UV protection) and it looks just like cedar. It wont last more than ten years, probably, but the client is OK with that.

For future work, I want to up the longevity of the deck (perhaps even include a 10 year guarantee on weathering as a bonus). My question is, is there any way to protect fir at least ten years in a wet climate? Any new products or techniques? This fir is very thick, a full 2 inches and strong as hell. Looks great (matches cedar) and is half the cost of treated.

deckman22 · 05-27-2008, 09:45 PM

10 years is a pretty short lifetime a deck frame. I always use TYP for framing & would never use fir. If people don't like the green look you can use brightner on the TYP then stain with twp in the rustic color, matches close enough.

pfloyd · 05-28-2008, 01:25 AM

TYP? What is that? Again , local lingo differences.

MartyCD · 05-31-2008, 08:35 AM

Treated Yellow Pine, eh?
You might have different fir in Canada, could be good stuff, raised on pure Molson, etc.
Hiding deck framing from underneath using an underdeck drainage system is an option. Plug for ours (Rain Escape) or ones like it is that it keeps the frame dry - may help with the longevity you are looking for.
Marty

RenovatorLLC · 05-31-2008, 11:46 AM

Sorry, guy, liability issues drives me to using treated SYP for the frame. If they want it pretty and quick, and want to shell out the coin, there's cedar. Otherwise, give the frame a few months and stain to your hearts content.
If anyone wanted a deck made of untreated lumber other than cedar (or redwood, though not east of the Mississippi, cause it just can't be found anymore) I would walk away.
Too many decks are falling, killing and injurying people, and the lawyers are salivating as they circle the contractors that built the things, no matter how long ago it was built.
Just my .02 worth.