Q: I recently finished adding a deck to my house. I've noticed part of
my handrail is warping. I used treated wood, 2-by-4 and spindles for the
handrail.
Is there anything I can do to prevent or limit the warping?
A: For this question, turned to treated-wood expert Huck DeVenzio of
Wolmanized Wood. Here's what he had to say:
"Wood has many outstanding properties, but it is a natural,
porous material with individual characteristics, and it can warp. When
wood gets
wet, it swells. When wood dries out after being sawn from the tree,
after being pressure-treated and after rain showers, it shrinks. Uneven
drying creates
stresses in wood, which results in warping (e.g., bowing, cupping or
twisting) or cracking. The degree of warping depends on the species of
wood, its grain
pattern, uniformity of drying and construction techniques, among other
factors.
"Although it is possible to position bowed deck lumber so
that its weight flattens it, or to use screws to fasten securely an
otherwise warped
piece, there is not much a user can do to truly un-warp a warped piece
of wood. It is best to take steps early to minimize the likelihood of
warping. For
example, you can purchase treated wood that is Kiln-Dried After
Treatment (KDAT). This step removes moisture evenly under controlled
conditions, so you
don't have sunshine drying the top of a deck while the underside faces
moist earth. Or, you can get wood with built-in water repellent, which
helps to
slow down the release and absorption of water. In either case, it is
always advisable to apply a water-repellent coating every year or so to
reduce further
water absorption in surfaces where good appearance is desirable.
"In building a project, you can avoid long, unsupported
spans, and you can make sure to use enough fasteners to hold wood firmly
in place. Screws
have better holding power than normal nails. As a last resort, it may
help to flip some cupped deck boards and encase a twisted column with
fascia boards.
Badly warped pieces may have to be replaced.
"Some warping is always a possibility, but this should not
discourage the use of a convenient, economical, attractive, long-lasting
and renewable
building material like pressure-treated wood. For more information on
preserved lumber and other maintenance tips, visit
www.wolmanizedwood.com.
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