Use and Care Manual

COMMON MAINTENANCE CONCERNS
Continuous changes in weather conditions are extremely harsh on your deck and other pressure-treated projects.
Your maintenance plan must be geared toward preventing problems caused by water absorption and water loss, mildew
growth and wood discoloration caused by the sun’s ultra-violet light.
The maintenance concerns discussed below are weather-related. The degree to which your
pressure-treated project is affected depends on many factors, including general climate
conditions (such as normal precipitation, humidity, etc.) and location in your yard (with
regard to direct sun exposure, foliage coverage, etc.). It is important to note that pressure
treatment does not increase the likelihood that your deck or outdoor project will develop
these natural defects to any greater degree than the same material left untreated.
These weather-related defects are beyond the control of the pressure treatment process,
and therefore are outside the scope of the Lifetime Limited Warranty.
SHRINKING AND SWELLING
Continuous water absorption and water loss in your wood deck or outdoor
project will cause its natural defects to surface. A well-maintained deck or
outdoor project will still experience some of these, however, the extent can be
significantly reduced through a maintenance plan. The most common are:
MILDEW GROWTH
Whenever wood, including pressure-treated wood, is constantly exposed to
moist or humid conditions, it will mildew, creating an unsightly appearance.
Your preventive maintenance plan needs to include cleaning your deck with a cleaner
containing a mildewcide. This will ensure that as the effectiveness of the mold inhibitor declines over time, your pressure-
treated project will remain bright and attractive. Remember, your focus is on the appearance and not decay, because
our pressure-treated wood has a Lifetime Limited Warranty against fungal decay.
ULTRAVIOLET PROTECTION
If preventive steps aren’t taken to block the sun’s ultraviolet rays, the surface cells of the wood on your pressure-
treated project will begin to discolor to the familiar weathered gray. Although some people prefer this, others don’t. If
you want to maintain the original color of the pressure-treated wood, you will need to not only clean/brighten your deck
periodically, but also choose a water-repellent finish with an ultraviolet stabilizer. The stabilizer will not prevent eventual
discoloration, but will slow down the process. Periodic reapplication of a UV stabilizer will help in this effort over an
extended period of time.
-continued on back
Twist
Cup/Warp
Check
Split
To effectively combat
these maintenance
concerns, it is up
to you to follow
a preventive
maintenance plan.
Maintenance Plan
For your Pressure-Treated Projects