How to Keep Treated Lumber From Leaking

Lumber is treated to prevent it from rotting, warping or becoming otherwise unusable while supporting a deck, house or other building. However, sometimes the treatment loses its effectiveness or stops working completely due to excessive exposure to liquids, especially water. Leaking water can not only destroy wood, it can also eliminate the effectiveness of every other substance it comes across. You can stop your treated wood from becoming useless by applying a water repellent.

Water repellent
Safety glasses
Leather gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Put on safety glasses and leather gloves.
- 2
  Inspect the treated wood for signs of wear or other damage. Splash water on all treated wood to check for leaks; any damaged or leaking wood will need water repellent application.
- 3
  Apply water repellent to damaged or leaking treated wood; follow the instructions included with the water repellent to see how much should be applied to each wood surface.
- 4
  Wait for the water repellent to soak into the treated wood; consult the repellent's instructions to see how long you have to wait for the repellent to take effect.
- 5
  Test the water repellent's effectiveness once it has been absorbed into the treated wood by splashing water on the wood and checking for leaks. Apply more water repellent if leaks are still present.

Ideas for Wood Pole Barns

How to Install a Scribe Molding

Carpentry