Protect your investment with the proper maintenance program.
YellaWood® brand pressure treated wood has a Lifetime Residential and Agricultural Limited Warranty against rot, fungal decay and termite attack and a Limited 15 Year Warranty for Fence Boards.*
You have spent a lot of time and money on your deck or other outdoor project. The YellaWood® brand lumber used around your home needs care and maintenance to protect your project from the harsh effects of weathering caused by rain, sunlight and temperature change. The information that follows will help you get the best out of your project and help you protect your investment.
*Ask your dealer for a copy of the Limited Lifetime Warranty and Consumer Information Sheets.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR INVESTMENT
Only the highest quality preservatives are used to protect YellaWood® brand pressure treated lumber from rot, fungal decay and termite attack. However, only a regular maintenance program can minimize the effects of the weather on your outdoor project. Whenever a project is built with treated wood and exposed to the weather, certain inherent properties of the wood become evident. Since the characteristics shown below are natural to wood, they are not warranted against such occurrences. Here are examples of what can happen:
 CHECKS, SPLITTING AND GRAIN SEPARATION
These diagrams depict a cross section of wood which displays some of the natural behavioral tendencies of wood. As wood is exposed to alternating cycles of wetting and drying some checking and splitting may be expected.
 BOWING, CROOKING, CUPPING AND TWISTING
These diagrams show some of the other ways in which wood reacts to weather exposure. Wood may bow, crook, cup or twist in varying degrees depending on stresses released by initial sawing of the lumber and moisture absorption.
 SEVERE WARPING AND SPLITTING
These diagrams depict a cross section of wood which displays severe warping and splitting. Severely warped or buckled wood is wood that has twisted to the point where it is an eyesore or structurally unsound. Severely split wood will have a crack that goes completely through the board and has opened. These severe warping and splitting conditions can sometimes be corrected, but in worst case situations, the wood may have to be replaced. Replacement of severely warped and split wood is part of a regular maintenance program.
COLOR FADING
When wood is exposed to ultraviolet rays of the sun, color fading occurs. Freshly treated YellaWood® brand products are similar in color to CCA treated wood. In a few weeks time it turns tan or brown and after a few months, weathers to the familiar gray color. The use of a high quality stain of the desired color will renew the color. A stain containing a water repellent is also recommended.
 FUNGAL DECAY AND TERMITES
This diagram shows other effects of weather on wood. Moisture penetration can cause rot and decay. Unprotected wood can be destroyed by termites. To keep your outdoor project strong and attractive, use only YellaWood® brand pressure treated wood. The high purity preservatives help keep out termites and is a proven and effective barrier against fungal decay. And we offer and proudly stand behind a warranty on our YellaWood® brand products used in residential applications.
See warranty for specific provisions.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
To protect your investment, a regular maintenance program is important. A good maintenance program begins during construction and continues on through the life of your ownership of the project.
Here are some important things you need to include as part of your maintenance program:
1. When building outdoors it is important that a fastening system is used which provides maximum holding power and corrosion resistance. Use hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel nails, screws, or bolts when working with YellaWood® brand pressure-treated wood. These types of fasteners are corrosion resistant and will prevent rust stains on your project. Adhesives add extra holding power to decking and applications where appearance is important. Click here for more information on choosing fasteners.
2. As a general rule always apply board bark side up. With some boards that is not always possible. The best face should be placed up when a defect of the wood is apparent. Attach thin boards to thicker boards to maintain structural integrity.
3. Drill pilot holes, especially when working near the edge of the board. This will minimize end splitting.
4. If wood is not kiln-dried after treatment, butt decking boards together. As drying occurs, some shrinkage can be expected. If the wood has been kiln or sir-dried after treatment, allowing for shrinkage is not necessary.
5. Apply a weather resistant finish. Any exposed wood, pressure treated or not, should be protected from the weather. Application of a quality clear water repellent or semi-transparent stain which contains a water repellant will help minimize the cycles of moisture take-up and loss the wood goes through outdoors. For maximum protection, one of these products should be applied as soon as the deck or other project construction is completed. First, thoroughly clean your project. A clear water repellent can then be applied to your deck or other project. If you choose to use a semi-transparent stain which contains a water repellent you need to first check that your project is surface dry. This can be tested by sprinkling a few drops of water on the wood surface. If the water is readily absorbed by the wood apply the semi-transparent stain immediately. If the water is not absorbed by the wood, wait a few days and retest. Or immediately apply a clear water repellent and wait approximately eight weeks and then apply your chosen color of semi-transparent stain. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations when applying a water repellent or stain.
6. When working with wood, treated or untreated, always follow safety and handling precautions. Ask your dealer for a copy of the Consumer Information Sheet.
REGULAR INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT
Severely warped and splitting lumber which cannot be salvaged should be replaced with YellaWood® brand pressure treated lumber. It is unfortunate, but in spite of homeowners' best efforts, some pieces of wood, through the natural growing characteristics in the grain pattern, will mechanically degrade over time to become un-useful. Your regular maintenance program should include regular inspection of all fasteners to determine if nails, screws or bolts are working themselves loose. A nail which has popped out of the wood can be driven back in and splitting boards can, in some cases, be reinforced with additional fasteners.
|
|