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Incompatable Materials

user-351876 | Posted in Construction Techniques on September 30, 2002 04:33am

I am making an inventory of building material incompatabilities (for example, the interaction of solvent-based caulking with polystyrene).

If you have any firsthand experience with construction materials that cause damage to other materials, I would appreciate hearing about them.  And, if you have found a solution to the incompatability, I would also like to hear about that.

 

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Replies

  1. User avater
    JDRHI | Sep 30, 2002 04:36pm | #1

    24 oz. waffle head framing hammer and clear pine casings.

    Solution- Senco trim gun.

    J. D. Reynolds

    Home Improvements

    "DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"

    1. User avater
      BossHog | Sep 30, 2002 05:50pm | #3

      How about a 24 Oz. waffle head and a thumb ???

      I love animals. Then I found out in some states you can actually be arrested for that.

      1. User avater
        rjw | Oct 01, 2002 12:10am | #4

        Doesn't have to be a waffle head

        1. User avater
          Qtrmeg | Oct 01, 2002 04:18pm | #11

          Ouch! I guess it is too late to tell you to run that thumb under cold water so it doesn't turn black, eh?

          Maybe it is time to flatten the face of that hammer before it happens again...

        2. joeh | Oct 02, 2002 12:29am | #20

          Bob, that's a nice job on the nail without damaging any of the surrounding meat. Must take a lot of practice?  Joe H

          1. User avater
            rjw | Oct 02, 2002 02:00am | #22

            "Bob, that's a nice job on the nail without damaging any of the surrounding meat. Must take a lot of practice?" 

            Years! 

            It was one of those that right after starting the swing, my mind shouted "Wait a goddam minute, stupid" and I eased up slightly on the swing, but not enough.

            It was a beautiful silverish metallic blue for the first couple of days, and has stayed the full blue for a couple of weeks now.

          2. joeh | Oct 02, 2002 02:35am | #24

            Bob, see that thread about new words for 2002......soundslike one of those "ohnoseconds"? Joe H

        3. jiggs | Oct 02, 2002 07:24am | #29

          Bob! Bob! You didn't drill that thumbnail!?  How did you sleep?  Next time grab one of those tiny drill bits in the bottom of your pouch, place it on your fingernail and just turn it back and forth between your fingers.  It will auger right down thru the nail--auger down until the blood flows and it will stop throbbing--I didn't say it will quit hurting.  Did I say that a sharp bit is better than a dull one?  Do it again from time to time to keep blood from filling up under the nail---It keeps the throbbing pain away.

        4. gordsco | Oct 02, 2002 08:05am | #30

          Waffle hammer and a big toe??

      2. pm22 | Oct 02, 2002 03:01am | #25

        Aren't you supposed to his nails with a hammer or is it the other way around - like hammers are supposed to hit nails?

        Ducks see a swimming pool and think "pond". Hammers see a fingernail and see "nail" so they hit it.

        -Peter

        I'd rather be a nail than a hammer.

        1. jet | Oct 02, 2002 04:49am | #26

          Kids and veggies.

          Men and flowery sh..   

          Toilet lids and those damn fuzzy covers.

          1. rez | Oct 02, 2002 04:56am | #27

            Roar!Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.

            Forget the primal scream,  just Roar!

  2. Piffin | Sep 30, 2002 04:54pm | #2

    Lots of solvents and glues on Foam insulation.

    >solution, market as "Swiss Foam"

    Some sanding sealers with polyurethene don't adhere well

    stains with some stearates with other stains cause tarry goo

    >solution, read the labels

    .

    Excellence is its own reward!

  3. r_ignacki | Oct 01, 2002 01:01am | #5

    I've never seen it, but I hear construction adhesive eats away the silvering on mmirrors, so  you buy the mirror stuff.

    Metals:  copper pipe gets a copper(or plastic) clamp and a COPPER nail.

    Some cabinet makers don't like silicon spray on there tables saws, ####'s up lacquer.

    Galvanized nail for pt lumber, even inside, salt eats the steel nail.

    Stainless fasteners for redwood and cedar.

    Peace Pot  Microdot



    Edited 9/30/2002 6:04:06 PM ET by panama red


    Edited 9/30/2002 6:10:16 PM ET by panama red


    Edited 9/30/2002 6:13:26 PM ET by panama red



    Edited 9/30/2002 6:14:46 PM ET by panama red

    1. User avater
      jonblakemore | Oct 01, 2002 04:29pm | #13

      "Galvanized nail for pt lumber, even inside, salt eats the steel nail."

      Remember that some of us live a good distance away from the coast...

      "Stainless fasteners for redwood and cedar."

      Do you mean you should only use stainless for these types?

      Jon Blakemore

      1. luvmuskoka | Oct 01, 2002 05:18pm | #14

        Wallpaper and spouses. Nothing will ruin a good marriage like hanging wall paper with your spouse [/;>)Ditch

      2. Leucas | Oct 01, 2002 06:06pm | #15

        >>"Galvanized nail for pt lumber, even inside, salt eats the steel nail."

        >Remember that some of us live a good distance away from the coast...

        Its the salts in the pt [pressure treated] wood.

        1. User avater
          jonblakemore | Oct 01, 2002 10:19pm | #16

          At the risk of being proved ignorant I will say that I have never heard of salt in PT.  Jon Blakemore

          1. luvmuskoka | Oct 01, 2002 10:43pm | #17

            Jon,

            I don't know if there is actually salt in P.T. There is a pressure treating plant not far from where I live. Sometimes, just after the wood is treated a crysttaline substance emerges and forms on the surface of the wood, guys who work there call this 'salt' and avoid it because the cca can be absorbed thru the skin very easily at this point. I've heard them say:..."stay away from that pile for awhile..it's salted."Ditch

          2. User avater
            goldhiller | Oct 02, 2002 04:59am | #28

            955-3 Process.

            For round timber piling, structural timber, sheet piling, posts, braces, and all other timber items,

            the treatment shall be by the full cell process.

            955-4 Requirements for Preservative Materials.

            955-4.1 Salt Preservative: The salt preservative shall be chromated copper arsenate of the

            following compositions:

            Minimum (%) Maximum (%)

            Hexavalent Chromium, as CrO3 33.0 50.5

            Copper, as CuO 17.0 22.0

            Arsenic, as As2O5 30.0 48.0

            The active ingredients in the solution shall be in proportions within the range required for

            the salt itself.

            The pH of the treating solution shall be between 1.6 and 3.2.

            Tests to determine conformance with the foregoing requirements shall be made in

            accordance with the standard methods of the American Wood Preservers' Association, Standard A2.

            Random samples of the preservative will be tested by the Department's Office of Materials and Research.

            When Douglas Fir is used, ammoniacal copper arsenate shall be used as the salt

            preservative in lieu of chromated copper arsenate. Ammoniacal copper arsenate shall meet the

            requirements of ASTM D 1325. Tests to determine conformance shall be in accordance with AWPA

            Standard A-2.

            Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.

          3. gordsco | Oct 02, 2002 08:26am | #31

            I know there are concentrations of arsenic in PT that can be harmful to small children, alot of parents have me build their playsets out of white cedar.

            Is it possible this is the "salt" the workers avoid?

            I've never seen ''salt" on PT.

            I've relaced boards on PT decks I've built 15 years later and never found a bad galvanized nail. (east coast)

            sometimes board sometimes knot

          4. HammerHarry | Oct 02, 2002 06:34pm | #35

            "salt" does not only mean what we consider table salt.  A "salt" is a whole category of chemicals, as has been noted before.

          5. User avater
            jonblakemore | Oct 02, 2002 11:31pm | #36

            My curiousity is still piqued...

            Does PT eat galv. nails?

            Jon Blakemore

          6. vasalesman | Oct 03, 2002 02:44am | #37

            Northern VA, very humid in summers but no salt air.  Have been involved with decks since '76, never seen PT "eat" a hot dipped galvanized nail.  I have seen minor corrosion on nail heads from the coating getting cracked during hammering.  Have also seen some where the coating was scratched off while going into hangers.  Wouldn't be surprised if low quality HDG or electro coated nails began to show rust inside the lumber though due to the thinness of the coating and being being inside oftentimes wet wood.  Some incidental rust, sure.  But "eatting", like putting in 12d's & having them change to 6d's in two years--never.

            Al

          7. archyII | Oct 03, 2002 04:18am | #38

            "I have seen minor corrosion on nail heads from the coating getting cracked during hammering.  Have also seen some where the coating was scratched off while going into hangers."

            Why not use stainless steel?  It really does not cost that much more and you can use it as a selling point (My competitors use galvanized but My projects all have stainless steel that will last a life time).

          8. UncleDunc | Oct 03, 2002 05:27am | #40

            There was an article on building durable decks in FHB several years ago. It included a sidebar about an ongoing test of deck materials at the Forest Products Lab in Madison, WI. They showed a picture of different fasteners after 20 years in service. The stainless steel nail looked just like new. All the regular steel nails, including the galvanized nails, were completely rusted away or covered with rust and well on their way to rusting away. I can see using galvanized nails in roofing, where you really don't expect the nails to get wet, but not in a deck. I would always specify stainless in any application where I anticipated liquid water, even sporadically.

          9. User avater
            jonblakemore | Oct 03, 2002 08:30pm | #45

            I believe that was using a salt spray test.  I always assumed that the rate of corrosion would be greatly reduced when it's just water with no salt.  I might be wrong.

            Jon Blakemore

          10. UncleDunc | Oct 03, 2002 09:51pm | #46

            The one I was thinking of was in FHB #102, page 79. It was only 14 years, not 20. They don't say anything about salt spray. In fact, they don't mention liquid water at all, just that the test blocks were kept in a high humidity atmosphere for 14 years.

            They compared stainless, hot dip galvanized, electro-galvanized, and mechanically plated. In the text, they make the point that hot dipped last longer than electro-galvnized, but in the picture, I couldn't see much difference. All three galvanized nails were completely covered with rust, while the stainless nail was still bright.

            I haven't priced the difference between stainless and galvanized fasteners, but if you think of it as a percentage of the cost of a whole deck, I can't imagine that it would be much.

          11. User avater
            jonblakemore | Oct 04, 2002 11:26pm | #55

            I did a comparison for stainless vs. galvanized.

            The stainless material was priced from http://www.stainless-fasteners.com

            I am assuming 1' of length on a deck that is 12' wide (width is parallel with joists). 

            I came up with:

            Stainless-  $12.32 per foot of ledger

            Galvanized-  $5.25 per foot of ledger

            I included 5 3" nails, 42 2-1/2" screws, 2 5" carriage bolts, nuts and washers, .75 joist hanger (assuming 16" oc) and 6 hanger nails.

            So, a 12'x20' deck with no railing on the sides of the deck would be $246 with stainless and $105 with galvanized.  Only about $.50/sq. ft.

            If it's a concern, it would seem expedient to use stainless throughout.

            Jon Blakemore

          12. UncleDunc | Oct 04, 2002 11:33pm | #56

            Thanks for the numbers. That's about what I expected.

          13. JohnSprung | Oct 05, 2002 12:54am | #57

            > .... and mechanically plated.

            What is mechanically plated? How are they made?

            As for stainless, I can't find them at any local suppliers.  They have to be mail ordered from Swan.

            -- J.S.

          14. UncleDunc | Oct 05, 2002 04:27am | #58

            I'm paraphrasing from an article I read some years ago, so if anybody has the true facts on mechanically plated nails, speak right up.

            The put the nails and zinc powder in a drum and tumble them. As two nails bump into each other with a zinc particle between them, some of

            the zinc sticks to the nails. Sounds dodgy to me. Maybe it was cheaper than electro-plating during the energy crisis.

          15. User avater
            BillHartmann | Oct 01, 2002 11:43pm | #18

            "Salt -

            6. (Chem.) The neutral compound formed by the union of an acid and a base; thus, sulphuric acid and iron form the salt sulphate of iron or green vitriol."

            I am not sure if the chemical compounds in CCA are properly called a salt or not, but I heard it offen called a "salt".

          16. User avater
            jonblakemore | Oct 02, 2002 12:21am | #19

            Bill,

            Have you or anybody else heard that PT kills galvanized fasteners?Jon Blakemore

          17. Piffin | Oct 03, 2002 04:52am | #39

            The chemicals used in PT are indeed "salts". Not table salt or sea salt, but still of a kind that enable ionic reactions that can weaken the metalic coating of zinc on the galvanized nail.

            I work for folks who have more than enough money, with the result that they have been known to change their minds about a project or part of their home well before it wears out. This means that I often find myself tearing something apart that I have built to stand for a generation and more after as little as two years. In the process, I have pulled hot dipped galvanized nails out of PT lumber more times than I care to. It is a rare one that does not show signs of rust beginning. It is certainly not as extensive as rust on CCs would be, but it is enough to be aware that the zinc coating is less effective in PT lumber than it is in KD spruce.

            I do live and work on the coast but I make the same observation in locations where there is no exposure to sea salt.

            Hope you find this observation of value to you..

            Excellence is its own reward!

          18. bill_1010 | Oct 03, 2002 06:12am | #41

            Bodies and the ground, after the body has fallen X amount distance.

          19. Piffin | Oct 03, 2002 06:29am | #42

            HUH???.

            Excellence is its own reward!

          20. UncleDunc | Oct 03, 2002 07:50am | #43

            AKA deceleration sickness, AKA cement poisoning.

            1st climber: I'm not afraid of heights, it's falling I'm afraid of.

            2nd climber: I'm not afraid of falling, it's hitting the ground I'm afraid of.

          21. User avater
            BossHog | Oct 03, 2002 02:30pm | #44

            Just curiois - Will the new treated lumber also have chemicals that react with galvanized nails? Or does it use a different kind of "salts"?

            I want you beside me when I'm old and gray. Actually, I need someone to lean on so I don't fall.

          22. DavidThomas | Oct 02, 2002 08:53am | #32

            Yes, they are properly called salts.

            David Thomas, chemical engineer, Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska

          23. jc21 | Oct 02, 2002 04:03pm | #33

            Imcompatible materials .................... a couple of Bud six packs and a second story roofing job.

          24. rez | Oct 02, 2002 04:46pm | #34

            or Bud and any job

            Half of good living is staying out of bad situations.

            Forget the primal scream,  just Roar!

          25. luvmuskoka | Oct 03, 2002 11:04pm | #47

            ...suspenders and a belt together.....tie tack and tie bar...Ditch

          26. HammerHarry | Oct 04, 2002 03:50am | #48

            I love the fact that there are a few posts that gamely try to stick to the original topic of this post.  Interspersed with the discussion of pressure treated wood and stainless vs galvanized fasteners, it's like drinking beer with coffee chasers for 6 hours.  Your body can't figure out what to do next....

          27. luvmuskoka | Oct 04, 2002 12:05pm | #49

            Incompatible materials:  Beer and coffee chasers.Ditch

          28. jet | Oct 04, 2002 05:27pm | #50

              Beer and coffee chasers.?????

            I think Newf covered this in another disscusion.

            Decaf. coffee we call BEER.

          29. User avater
            jonblakemore | Oct 04, 2002 05:37pm | #51

            I'm sorry Cairo, I don't believe I see any listing of incompatible materials in your post.  I think you should stick to the original intent of the thread.

            <G>Jon Blakemore

          30. User avater
            JeffBuck | Oct 05, 2002 08:18am | #59

            "tie tac and tie bar"......

            Went to a buddies wedding a few short years ago. Same buddy I wasn't allowed to play with anymore...seems some married guy(me) was getting the single guy(him) into trouble with the soon to be wife.....kept him out late on school nites, got him drunk, made him have fun and such...but I digress.....

            So we're at the wedding reception, and I get a close look at her idiot major guido brother......he's wearing a collarless shirt....top button buttoned......with a tie bar hooked over the top button!

            One of those gold tie bar's...flat metal that goes behind the tie...a little gold chain that keeps the tie from swinging......

            And this dude is wearing it like it's some button decoration..maybe he thinks it's really a little clip on gold tie, or something!

            I must say....it matched him perfctly.....gotta love a guy from Pgh that talks with a fake Brooklyn accent!

            So maybe we can add...tie bars...and no tie?

            Jeff

            I have a pic of him around here somewhere.....too good to pass up.......

            styling and smiling!

            .......Sometimes on the toll road of life.....a handful of change is good.......

      3. r_ignacki | Oct 02, 2002 01:26am | #21

        frequently , I'm given materials, and told how to install it, as far as wood siding goes, we use stainless nails. You can buy some cedar shingles for roofing and the supplier will sell you galvanized nails to install them with.Peace Pot  Microdot

      4. user-351876 | Oct 04, 2002 07:28pm | #52

        Hello Jon

        Can ypou provide more detail about your experience with galvanized nails and PT wood indoors-  How long did it take for the nails to corrode and what were the service conditions?

        Is the only solution the use of stainlss steel nails?

        John Burrows

        1. User avater
          jonblakemore | Oct 04, 2002 10:25pm | #54

          I don't know if you meant to address this to me or not, but...

          Ideally, you should not have corrosion problems indoors.  The only place water should ("should" as in typical problems) come from is up through a slab, a roof leak,  or with a plumbing leak.  Vapor barrier, good roof and flashing, and proper plumbing should alleviate any issues indoors.

          I cannot say that I've seen rusted HD galv nails indoors, to the best of my knowledge.Jon Blakemore

  4. User avater
    coonass | Oct 01, 2002 01:52am | #6

    Acid cure silicone and galvanized or painted steel, use Lexel instead.

    KK

  5. FrankB89 | Oct 01, 2002 03:38am | #7

    Using paint thinner (mineral spirits) to thin spar varnish or clean brushes used to spread same.  Use laquer thinner.  (Unless you need some gummy slime for something).

     



    Edited 9/30/2002 8:51:34 PM ET by Notchman

  6. bkhy | Oct 01, 2002 04:29am | #8

    silicone as mirror mastic---not good

  7. User avater
    goldhiller | Oct 01, 2002 04:59am | #9

    Concrete and aluminum

    Galvanized and aluminum

    Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
    1. DAD007 | Oct 01, 2002 05:14am | #10

      DW and me

      taking bets?

  8. User avater
    jonblakemore | Oct 01, 2002 04:27pm | #12

    PT and AL.  The copper in the PT (both CCA and ACQ) reacts with the AL.  For that matter, copper and AL.

    Jon Blakemore
  9. DaveHeinlein | Oct 02, 2002 02:16am | #23

    Red Cedar and copper. Maybe contrary to popular belief, but more than one reference book I've read warns against it, and I have replaced flashings with pin holes in it.

    1. user-351876 | Oct 04, 2002 07:31pm | #53

      Helo Dave

      Can you provide a litle more dtail please.  What kind of flashing do you use with WRC shingles?  If it is galvanized, does the tannin in the wood cause the zinc coating to disappear faster than it would normally?

      John Burrows

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We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data