pressure treated lumber-inslalled4x4 posts-cracks appear up and down posts is this normal?

Question

AGAIN IS THIS NORMAL FOR LUMBER TO CRACK?Any way to repair the problem?

Answer 1

Pressure treated lumber is especially bad for this.... this is because of the huge change in moisture content of the lumber. Pressure treated lumber is, literally, cooked, to instill the copper nitrate and/or other chemicals to help seal it. As the 'boiled' log dries out, the wood fibers shrink, causing the cracks to appear, and often, causing the posts to warp, bend, etc.

The best way to prevent damage to supports, is to actually use more than one piece of lumber per support. Glueing 2 or 3 pieces together provides a much more stable support, even tho, each individual board may still show some weather cracks, the total support is less likely to bow or twist out of shape.

If you kept the little tags that are stapled to the ends of the boards, you may be able to get the worst ones replaced. ( Those are your warranty tags )

Be wary of putting anything that will harden into the cracks...if the post picks up some moisture later, those wood fibers are going to want to swell... and if there is something hard in the way.... it will cause the post to split even more.

On the few occasions that I use pressure treated lumber, I use 'oversized' posts... because I know that they are going to show some weather checking down the road... instead of a 4"x4", I'll use a 6"x6". The larger posts seem to be just a little more stable too. Im not sure if its because they start out with a better quality of lumber, or if it is because there is more wood that has to exchange moisture content, and this slows the process down a bit.

Normally, I prefer to use non-treated wood... laminate my posts, and treat them myself. Yeah, it's more work for me... but it looks better in the end.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

this is normal, especially when the posts dry in place, or under pressure. As for repair, unless they're structural members, there's really no need, though replacement is probably the only way. As for prevention of future cracking, get a good water-sealing compound (like Thompson's water sealer. This helps prevent the swelling and shrinking of temperature and moisture changes.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

normal yes

if you live in a freezing climate, caulk the cracks shut, and put a sealer on the lumber, as the freezing water, will enlarge the crack, is it freezes in the crack

Answer 5

Yes this is Normal With Pressure treated wood . This wood may twist also.

Answer 6

Yeah, the 4x4s at my house are the same way....as long as the cracks don't go through and through......it shouldn't be a problem....

Answer 7

normal. not usually a problem unless the wood was cut cross grain or had a really curved grain.

Answer 8

yes it is normal, the only way to repair it is replacement.