PRESSURE TREATED

General Building Tips

When building outdoors with preserved wood, it's important to follow special construction practices, precautions, and maintenance procedures in order to get the most out of your finished product and protect it for years to come.

General building tips for pressure treated wood

• Hot-dip galvanized, stainless steel or corrosion-resistant wood fasteners should be used to protect against corrosion and premature wear.
• The finished product must be protected from moisture and sun damage.
• Most important, the project must be built safely and in accordance with state and local building codes.

Before beginning your outdoor construction project using pressure treated wood, please make sure to review all building tips, consumer information, handling precautions, and care and maintenance recommendations presented in this section.
When you choose pressure treated wood for your outdoor construction project, you'll want to be sure to follow quality craftsman guidelines for an excellent finished appearance and durability. Here are some helpful tips to make your project easier to build, last longer, and look attractive.

Use Hot-dip Galvanized Fasteners/Adhesive

Use hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel nails, screws, ACQ approved fasteners or HDG bolts when working with wood products treated with Osmose preservatives. These types of fasteners are corrosion resistant and will reduce the risk of rust stains on your project. Adhesives add extra holding power. If you choose to use adhesives apply in accordance with manufacturers' directions.

When Appearance Permits, Nail Bark Side Up

As a general rule, nail boards bark side up (frown down) to reduce cupping. If a defect in the wood is noticeable, however, the best face should be placed up. Fasten thin boards to thicker boards to maintain structural integrity.

Drill Pilot Holes

To help minimize splitting of the wood, it's a good idea to drill pilot holes for your fasteners, especially when nailing near the edge or end of a board.

Deck Board Spacing

The moisture content of pressure treated wood products can vary. If the moisture content of the treated wood is high, deck boards should be butted together because spaces will occur between the boards as they lose moisture content in service. If the wood has been kiln dried after treatment or otherwise has low moisture content a 1/8” spacing is recommended.

Use an End Cut Preservative

Brush a wood preservative on all saw cuts and into drill holes during construction of wood projects. This is also recommended for any areas where moisture can collect. Using end cut preservative is required under the Osmose Lifetime Limited Warranty.

After Care

There are many top-quality maintenance products for your outdoor wood projects, including water repellents, stains, and cleaners.