Madison Wood Preservers Inc.

Wolmanized® Residential Outdoor® Wood: Building Tips

Whether you hire a contractor or build your project yourself, note: treated wood will last a long time, therefore so will your workmanship. You'll be happier - and your project will look better - if you take your time and observe the following construction techniques.

Make sure that your wood is suited for the intended use. Check the tag on lumber for "above ground" or "ground contact."
Before you begin nailing, lay out your lumber with the best-looking face exposed. Decide which pieces you want for visible areas, and which pieces for understructure.
Separate deck boards as follows to allow for expansion and contraction. If heavy and wet, separate boards no more than 1/16" as some shrinkage will occur. If light and dry, separate boards no more than 1/8".
Avoid long spans in construction. The greater the distance between supporting points, the more force developed within the wood as it dries. Also avoid designs with long cantilevers unsecured at one end.
Use enough nails. Skimping doesn't pay. Use two nails across a 2 x 4 and three across a 2 x 6. Drive nails at a slight angle toward each other.
Nails and other hardware should be hot-dipped zinc-coated or equally well protected material. Otherwise, weather may cause them to rust, leaving streaks.
To reduce splitting, drill a pilot hole about three quarters the diameter of the nail. For dense or brittle wood, grind sharpness from nails or blunt the points by striking them carefully with a hammer. Blunt nails cut through; sharp ones pry apart.
Use 3 1/4'' nails on nominal two-inch decking. Use two at each joint with 2 x 4s laid flat; use three for 2 x 6s laid flat. 3" nails are recommended for 5/4" decking.
Lumber wider than six inches should not be used as a flat surface. Wide, flat boards are subject to ponding of rain water, which can lead to cupping problems. It is better to use two 2 x 6's than one 2 x 12.
If a board is bowed, install it with the crown up. Gravity and the weight of people and furniture will flatten it.
If a board has a slight bend to it, it sometimes can be straightened as it is nailed in place.

For hardware recommendations click here.

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