Reusing old timber

_Al_ · Oct 26, 2007 12:16 pm

Got rafters and stuff out of the old garage, and considering using them for the frame for my deck/steps at the back door. Any reason not to use them other than they are 50 years old and hard as buggery (hardwood) ?

shanem · Oct 26, 2007 12:37 pm

Hi Al

I wouldn't use hardwood for the subfloor (joists etc) for your deck or steps, as it will eventually rot being exposed to the weather. Even painting it wont help as you will have to keep reapplying the paint every few years.

Build your sub floor out of treated pine, it will last a lot longer.

_Al_ · Oct 26, 2007 1:08 pm

It's all undercover. May only ever get hosed once in a blue moon.

Hmm.... ground moisture?

But all the underfloor of the house is hardwood......

Yak_Chat · Oct 26, 2007 2:29 pm

Should be fine Al.
You'll need to sharpen your saw a bit more often - or afterwards, plus make sure you PRE drill all your nail holes - or you'll be bending nails left right and centre. :evil:

Steve

Dukekamaya · Oct 26, 2007 7:43 pm

shanem

Hi Al

I wouldn't use hardwood for the subfloor (joists etc) for your deck or steps, as it will eventually rot being exposed to the weather. Even painting it wont help as you will have to keep reapplying the paint every few years.

Build your sub floor out of treated pine, it will last a lot longer.

I disagree completely, hardwood used 50 years ago was nearly all durability 1 stuff. Most outdoor paints are guranteed for 10 years these days and besides, you still have to paint treated pine anyway. This is especially important if you use non-CCA treated pine such as LOSP treated pine which although it has a H3 rating is not classed as weatherproof.
Obviously the downside as stated is that you will have to pre-drill everything.

Michelle · Oct 26, 2007 7:48 pm

I agree with Dukekamaya….and he should know, he works with timber!

Hardwood would be a good choice! Go for it!

Dukekamaya · Oct 27, 2007 8:29 pm

I say if you can save money and recycle without it cutting corners then its a good thing. I did all my kitchen bench tops out of old Oregon Pine pulled out of my old roof structures and it looks great.

Yak_Chat · Oct 27, 2007 9:21 pm

I have a similar plan to re-use railway sleepers currently in the garden as a feature bench in my kitchen - but I might coach screw it down so there are not as many holes to drill

Steve

Dukekamaya · Oct 27, 2007 9:49 pm

Don't coach screw it - they will really look ugly. Screw from the underside of your carcasses - lots of them

Yak_Chat · Oct 27, 2007 9:54 pm

I'm planning on a couple of coach screws on each corner from the underside of a steel frame. All hidden and it won't be be ugly

Thanks for the tip.
Steve

louie · Oct 31, 2007 10:52 am

The old Hardwood is a real pain to work with compared to treated pine. Every nail hole needs to be pre-dilled or its nail bends, or wood splits

_Al_ · Oct 31, 2007 10:57 am

Using Merbau I'm resigned to predrilling each hole anyway. So what's another 20mm deeper per hole :roll:

Getting bits and pieces together this week and plan to strike a blow this (long) weekend.

Dukekamaya · Oct 31, 2007 9:31 pm

Al

Using Merbau I'm resigned to predrilling each hole anyway. So what's another 20mm deeper per hole :roll:

It is more time-consuming with hardwood joists as apposed to t/pine. When you drill and countersink the hole in your decking board, the board must be in the exact position over the joist where it will be fixed. Also you should not be using shorter than 50mm screws or nails, so its 30mm into joist.