AboutMichael J. Owen Expertise Most questions about how to build, repair and maintain wood decks and fences.
Experience Have built many wood and man made decks in California, Bahamas, Florida and Georgia.Now living in Panama, Central America after 25 years in the U.S.
Organizations None
Publications Just had my late mothers book published. A murder mystery set in England.
Education/Credentials High School, College graduate.
Awards and Honors None
Past/Present Clients Too many to list in three countries and three states.
Expert: Michael J. Owen Date: 6/19/2008 Subject: questionable deck
Question QUESTION: Hi Michael, enjoy your humor, anyway deck has many warped boards that creak when walked on, is this a result of sun/water damage, but seem to be otherwise solid? Should I do something about this? Also is it ok to sand down the pressure-treated wood on the railings on said deck? (I thought I'd read something negative about it at some time), will soon produce many splinters for growing boy. Thank You,
Jeff
ANSWER: Hi Jeff. The creaking boards should at least be pre-drilled and screwed down with stainless steel screws to at least hold them more firmly in place.
Sanding P.T. should not be a problem and you may consider sealing the deck after this is done. Quite often, splinters in the deck boards and railings come from the screw holes not being pre-drilled and countersunk slightly.
Hope this helps.
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QUESTION: the boards on the railings all have screws well down into the wood and those are splintering pretty bad. Is that is what is meant my countersunk?
Answer Hi again Jeff. No. Not really. What happens when the hole is drilled is the fibers of wood tear and can create splinters. The screws should have been flush with the surface so that the screw head buries the splinters down the hole. In you case you may be able to carefully sand around the holes and use a premium wood filler to fill the holes flush to the surface. The best way, for future reference, is to use concealed decking clips which attach the boards with no surface drilling, nailing or screwing. Hope this helps.
