Just learned the hard way why you don't use pine boards for decking in Florida

I built a deck in my backyard in Tampa last summer and used regular pine like my grandpa always did, and now half the boards are warped and rotting after just 14 months. A local lumber yard guy told me I should have used pressure-treated pine or even cedar for the humidity down here. Anyone else run into rot issues way faster than they expected with certain wood types?

2 comments

2 Comments

felix_bailey4520d ago

Yeah pine down here is basically asking for trouble, I learned that the hard way too but with a different project. Built a little garden shed frame out of untreated pine because it was cheap and I figured it'd hold up a few years. After one rainy season the whole bottom was soft like a sponge and I had ants moving in. So I tore it all out and rebuilt with pressure treated stuff, cost more but it's been solid for three years now with zero rot. Made me realize Florida just chews up regular wood no matter what you do.

troy99619d ago

...and that's exactly why I tell people cheap wood is the most expensive mistake you'll ever make. You basically built a fancy ant hotel with that first shed, free rent and all you could eat. That pressure treated stuff might cost more upfront but at least it doesn't turn into pet food after one storm. Florida humidity is just nature's way of testing your patience with power tools, huh?