Screened porch, PT or Doug Fir (stained)
Howdy-
Been planning my screened porch addition for some time. Pretty much assumed I would use PT. I’m having second thoughts.
Last year I built the supporting structure/deck with PT. Thing I’m not crazy about is doing more construction this year with the stuff. I have a 2 year old and an infant, and don’t look forward to the precautions (collect ALL the sawdust, make sure they don’t touch any fresh lumber, can’t go near them after cutting lumber, etc…) Not to mention the residual (debatable) affects of the PT being around for years.
I know the PT will be safer from a longevity viewpoint. But I wonder how risky it would be to use doug fir. The porch will be covered, but of course the sides will be exposed to rain. I plan on applying a semi transparent stain. I’m guessing I may also want to do a sealant on top of the stain?
In short, anyone think it would be too much maintance and risk not to use PT? BTW, something like Cedar is cost prohibitive for me (live in virginia).
Thanks-
Kevin
Replies
Kevin,
"In short, anyone think it would be too much maintance and risk not to use PT? BTW, something like Cedar is cost prohibitive for me (live in virginia)."
Have you priced the fir yet?
Look into some of the composits. They are also pricy.
Chuck S
I thought the new PT didn't have the arsenic or other bad chemicals in it and the health hazards had gone away. Is it still bad stuff??
thought the new PT didn't have the arsenic or other bad chemicals in it and the health hazards had gone away
They took the arsenic out to "protect" the people working at the treatment plants (from hazards not reported to have ever occured to them).
The new treatments are safe for treatment plant workers, but are a huge bear for anyone actually working with them (as in cutting, drilling, nailing).
Close to eight in ten report skin irritation from contact with the sawdust, many report "burning" and allergic reactions, some reports of contact dermatitis, too. Breathing fumes from the cut material seems to affect people. Limited, if wide-spread reports of contact problems (rash/itch/burn) in handling the material, especially the "ground contact" rated (heaviest treatment) material. Oh, and eye irritation, too (I want to remember that one state osha has a caution that 'workers" ought not wear contact lenses if cutting). Then, there's the hassle of needing triple dip or stainless fasteners.
That's also why there's not just one "treated" material out there, too. The near-universal problems with ACQ have now spawned a great hodge-podge of "newest"/"best treatment ever" varieties, some of which have greater and lesser availablity. The borate treatments will likely "win," but it's going to take a while to get through all the existing stocks of all the other products.
"Risk" gets to be a tricky word.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Unless you have a PT T&G flooring material available in your area that I am unfamiliar with, I'd recomend going with the Fir.
Much nicer product. Stain and seal it well and you will get MANY years of pleasure out of it.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq
we have been doing nothing but porches lately and could not recommend any of the fir I have used in the last year or so on one job however we found some t&g composite that looked great I was also thinking about milling the rounded edges off 5/4 composite
Why do you say you wouldn't recomend.... because the grade?
yeah mostly the grade but also the projects which were to provide affordable housing and i cant see setting some one on a low income to deal with the mainancebut that applied to all the extior finishes on those projects all of which was not in my sphere of influence
The floor is Trex. What I'm debating is the bottom plate for the posts, the posts (4x4), the ceiling joists, and roofing. I'm going for the exposed look, nothings going to be wrapped in anything. Goes without saying (ok I'll say it), I know that as you go from the bottom plate up to the roof the need for PT diminishes since the materials will be more protected. So one vote for doug fir, one against. Any others? Anyone want to chime in on a good method for sealing the doug fir to prevent rot/mold?Thanks....
Edited 4/18/2008 5:08 pm ET by kevreh
The floor is Trex. What I'm debating is the bottom plate for the posts, the posts (4x4), the ceiling joists, and roofing.
Well that's a horse of a different color.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq
??
Perhaps I assumed incorrectly....but according to some other responses you received, it would apear, I was not alone.
I thought you were talking about the porch flooring.....you cleared that up.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq
I thought you were looking for decking too. For the wall frame, definitely fir
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Thanks piffin. Knowing that the framing will be exposed, any specific grade? Seems like the local lumber yards don't stock anything beyond grades used for framing.
CVG for plates and one bys.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Painting PT wood is much like painting wax.
fir fir fir ...big fan ...go to the lumber yard and pick out the piece with the tightest grain ..
ive got fir on my decks although we dont have much worry of insects here on the oregon coast..
ive pulled 10year old 2x4 out of the weeds that when slighty sanded look good as new
in a fir fan but i thing bugs like to eat it ?
pt in my world goes underdecks and for ground contact