Exterior PTL lumber is not available!

[Carey]

on an earlier thread I had posted that Lowes carried exterior PTL, I was wrong, and I am sorry (both for misrepresenting this information, and the fact there is no exterior PTL lumber on island!) Lowes has a green pressure treated lumber that has an wrap that says "Outdoor Wood", but the little taggies state for above ground, interior & weather protected application! I forgot which thread this was in, but I checked the green PTL lumber at Lowes, and it is NOT exterior wood. I remember that one of the posters was trying to decide if they should ship the exterior PTL lumber from the mainland. You can buy a Jasco coating (green or black)here, but you cannot not purchase the pressure treated lumber. If you want exterior PTL, it is not on island. I saw the lumber wrap, and did not even think to check the little taggies until last week! My bad! Sorry to anyone inconvienced by this.
Aloha, Carey

[Buzz]

Carey, I was also looking for PTL to replace all this bloody porch railing, steps and stringers that are exposed to the elements. It just amazes me why anyone would design/build with lumber that is not suited for open areas. Sounds like it would be a good dang business if someone would import the stuff.

[David M]

Given the profit driven motive of the big boxes, there must be a reason PTL isn't readily available here. I'm sure they just mark it up appropriately, no matter the costs.

David

Ninole Resident

[loffelkopffl]

buzz, have you considered the plastic "wood" planks for your exposed areas? a contractor friend of mine just built his new deck out of it and it looks good, and supposedly will last decades. when mine wears out i might go to it. aloha

[toucano]

I'm surprised that with all of the worry about termites here that REAL pressure treated lumber is not sold here. I think Argus (Argus Lumber) said that he sold PT lunber at one time but quit due to little demand. My advice to anyone bringing materials over in a container would be to load it up with a lot of PT lumber.

I've used a bit of the plastic lumber and didn't care for it much for a number of reasons (just my opinion):

It is very unforgiving - your cuts need to be PERFECT or every "gap" or "imperfection" stands out like a sore thumb.

It can be slippery when wet.

Laast I knew, it was available primarily as a decking material and there was not plastic lumber available that was able to be used as structural members like joists - too much deflection.

[Buzz]

Well what in the world good is it if you can't buy the structural members, it defeats the whole purpose!

[Kapohocat]

CCA (formerly the treatment for PTL or "Wolmanized" is no longer available. It was taken off the market throughout the US as of Jan 1, 04. The replacement for it was CCQ but CCQ reacts with the hanger nails for Simpson ties (hence the new "Z-Max" ties). This problem is magnified by our salt air. The only lumber available with the CCA is ply, I believe.

As of about a month ago, Argus does still have bits and pieces of CCA lumber left. I think only 2x6's - not sure of lengths. Call him and check at 933-9441. There was a feeding frenzy over it in early 04 because the yards that did have it - Argus, Pierson, & Trojan quickly went through it as everyone reacted to the availabilty.

-Cat

[Kapohocat]

One more thing... when I worked at Argus, a woman called and was telling us about a organic treatment for lumber which required painting it on like Jasco. I cant remember much about it. If she is around or you know of it.... can someone share it with us here? Thanks!

[Carey]

Honsador will order a 4x4 post that is structural, but only in 54" lengths! and it was $$ (both are kinda defeating). I think that the mfg. was Trex, but not positive.
Aloha, Carey

[HADave]

Thought I'd share some practical experience of mine with ptl. In preparing our home for sale last fall I painted and atained the whole place, looked great....till around december when the behr stain started peeling from my deck and porch floors....

Issues keeping us from relocating left me with time to repair this peeling stain problem. Anyway where the stain did not peel it had been almost impossible to remove, tried most every chemical and mechanical option out there. Finally said, "frig this" got out the big guns and removed all the floor/decking and ran it through a planer ooooowwweee! better than new !! horray!! Well, that was when I noticed all my galvanized flashing and "simpson" hangers were badly corroded. Now this material was old style CCA treated the new ACQ treated I understand is even worse as far as the copper content which reacts with the galvinized metal parts. all of my ledger board flashing and many of the joist hangers were becoming compromised by this reaction. The ledger flashing led to some areas of rim joist damage. The only material unaffected by this reaction was the ptl. Consequently I replaced everything and this time used a Z-Max G185 rated galvanized hanger with copper flashing. Now I new this would of been an issue with the new ACQ treated but apparently the old CCA ptl is just as bad This deck was 11 years old.

Those thinking of bringing ACQ ptl from the mainland should also bring the G185 galvanized strong ties and copper flashing as well and either ceramic or stainless steel or double dipped galvanized nails/screws, that is, if you want to have things last.

Interestingly, HY-Bor treated material has no effect on these metal hangers/fastners So perhaps the lack of ptl is a blessing especially for the innocent DIY. Although I guess it should be treated with something where ground contact or wet exposure is an issue. I believe Carey suggested Jasco coating , in an earlier post when Hy-Bor is exposed to the elements.

Aloha HADave

We were lucky that we don't have large gatherings on our deck as in it's weakened state no telling what might have occurred.... Hello Prudential