Follow up questions - Q&A Letters

Rot Doctor

Subject: Follow up questions (cedar decking)
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Hello Rot Doctor

Last week I asked the following question, I am removing some decking and replacing it with 2 x 6 cedar, do you recommend sealing the cedar with a coating of cpes before staining?

Here is your answer:

A penetrating epoxy can be used as a primer under thicker paints. But it isn’t going to provide much benefit to a shorter lasting stain. For the cedar, I would be looking to apply the penetrating epoxy to the end grain, and nail or screw holes, and to any surface of the cedar where it will touch other wood. This will help the wood to resist moisture intrusion in the areas that typically cause moisture damage. Doing this, then applying stain might produce appearance, as the epoxy is in some areas but not others.

My follow-up question is since the bottom of each board will in the length of the board lay on a joist at some point and touch wood, should i just cpes the bottom of the whole board ?

Also I have a question on the sides of each board should I stain the 2 sides of the board or just leave the 2 sided the natural original cedar?

Any suggestions that you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Frank

Frank,

I would recommend treating the undersides of the boards. End grain, nail and screw holes, and any place where two pieces of wood touch are common areas of rot. So coating these areas goes a long way towards preserving the wood. If you are going to put the sealer in these chronic areas, then putting it everywhere on the board might help the look, cosmetically. If you have penetrating epoxy in some areas but not others, you might get a different look, cosmetically.

As far as staining the sides, I think that is up to you. I don’t think there is any reason to do it, structurally. But if you want it cosmetically, there is certainly no harm.

Doc

Hi Doctor Rot

Thanks again for all your suggestions on my questions.

Getting closer to putting the new boards on the deck, one question I have is when putting a dab of CPES on the screw holes, can you still remove the screw if needed to after putting the dab of CPES on the screw and the cpes has set on the screw?

Probably will not have too but just curious if you can if needed to, reason I ask is since the cpes forms very hard after applying.

Thanks,
Frank

Frank,

Yes. Most of the applied product will go into the wood. The amount that will be in the gap will not prevent the screw from being removed.

Doc

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