Wood Damage

The latest installment of...

American Pole and Timber Weekly - Edition 104

Welcome! We hope you find value in this edition of Pole and Timber Weekly.
If you have any questions, call us at (866) 397-3038. You can always visit us online at http://www.PoleandTimber.com.

Breaking Down Wood - the Major Causes of Damage to Wood
There are 3 main factors that cause wood to break down - water, sun, and wood boring organisms.

Water
Moisture is harmful to wood in AT LEAST two ways. First, the presence of dampness creates an environment where harmful fungi can grow and destroy the wood. Termites also require some moisture to live in wood. Second, repeated entry and exit of water causes the wood to swell then shrink again and again. Over time, this cycle causes the wood to split, warp, and crack.

Sun
The sun - actually, the sun's heat - causes wood to split, warp, crack, and twist because it causes water to evaporate. Boards warp toward the sun because the sunny-side-up is shrinking due to a decrease in moisture. Basically, the top side of the board becomes shorter than the bottom side so it bows, warps, cups, or twists. Further, the sun's UV rays cause the wood to turn gray.

Wood Boring Organisms
The most common wood boring organisms are termites, teredos (shipworms), and limnoria. They all eat wood. Termites are on land, though, while teredos and limnoria live in wood in the water.

Solutions
The #1 solution is to use pressure treated wood coated with 21 POLY from American Pole and Timber. Pressure treating wood with CCA or ACQ effectively makes wood inedible to organisms. Coating wood with 21 POLY makes it completely impenetrable to wood borers, UV rays, and water.

Always use wood that is treated to the correct retention level for your needs. Treat to .40 pcf for Ground Contact, .60 for Freshwater, and 2.5 for Brackish or Saltwater.

To learn more about pressure treated wood and 21 POLY, go to http://www.PoleandTimber.com. You can call directly at (866) 397-3038.

New Website with New SUPER ULTRA CONTENT
The new and improved and super-ultra-amazing Pole and Timber website will be out in late August or early September! Check back often at http://www.PoleandTimber.com. In addition to more interactive content, it will include cut sheets for our products and information specification sheets for treated wood and marine construction.

Until Next Week
Good luck out there and call us if you need anything!

American Pole and Timber is a national manufacturer and supplier of treated poles, timbers, pilings, large timber trusses, and other commercial and industrial wood products. Call us at (866) 397-3038.