Check Your Deck for Rot

Spring and Summer is the time of  year to inspect your deck fasteners and specifically areas of wood rot. Catching wood rot, before the damage is terminal, can save thousands of dollars and potential injuries.

             
Rot occurs where wood stays wet. Wood rots if it cannot dry out between rainfalls. Therefore, check the places where water gets trapped, and remove as many of these traps as you can. They include:

a. Gaps in the decking where sand, leaves, and pine needles collect. Remove the debris regularly.

b. Areas under flowerpots and planter boxes; these areas are particularly vulnerable because they get wet more often when plants are watered.

c. Countersunk nails or screws that create depressions which hold water. The water gets into the end grain of the wood where the fibers are broken by the fasteners.

d. The point where a cantilevered deck penetrates a wall.

e. The areas where joist rest on the beam under the deck.

Image Copyright Carson Dunlop

Also avoid wood to soil contact to avoid wood from rotting.  See article:

Avoid creating traps for water when repairing or rebuilding decks. For example, it is better to use a single 4 by 8 than to use two 2 by 8 nailed together. Water will inevitably find its way in between the two 2 by 8 and cause rot.

Another common place for moisture penetration and rot is at the end grain of deck boards where they are butted tightly together. It is better to leave a ½-inch gap between the ends of boards.

TIPS
Deck boards should be installed with the crown facing up. If the board warps slightly, the water will drain off the board. Boards installed with the crown facing down, cup and collect water.

http://www.warlinepainting.ca/snapblog/are-your-deck-boards-installed-right-side-up.asp

http://diy.skiltools.com/building-materials/how-to-inspect-boards-for-lumber-crown

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