 |
Home Inspections: Pressure Treated Lumber, What to Look For!
Author: Eric Badgely  | Posted: 02-01-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 13 | Rating: (54)  (?) 
 Home inspectors cite wood to earth contact as a condition that will, eventually, lead to decay of the wood. Sometimes, the wood that is in contact with the soil is pressure treated lumber that is designed for that purpose. This article gives advice on what could be considered appropriate uses for pressure treated lumber.
Wood to earth contact is one of the most frequently cited concerns in a home inspection report. Often, clients ask about wood to earth contact and how it applies to pressure treated lumber. In the world of construction, pressure treated lumber is advertised as having a long life (some say 40 plus years) even with direct earth contact. The manufacturers soak the lumber in chemicals that penetrate into the wood from the outside surface. The most vulnerable area to future rot is where the builder cuts the wood -- such as to length and then that end is dropped in a hole for use as a fence post. In theory, if an end is cut and buried, a topical wood treatment should be applied at the cut. In practice, this lumber does last a very long time. There have been instances of fence posts, that were installed 20 years before, being dug up and they looked as good as they did the day they were buried. On the other hand, depending on soil conditions, sometimes the wood will not meet the advertised expectations for longevity.
Pressure treated lumber, and what a home inspector should say about it when it touches soil, is an issue a home inspector wrestles with. Fact: The wood is manufactured for ground contact, so having it touch the earth is not necessarily a defect. However, pressure treated wood in contact with the soil will last much longer if all soil contact is eliminated. Putting pressure treated lumber on a concrete pier will make it last longer.
A logical means of evaluating the situation, that makes sense for the home inspector, follows: If pressure treated lumber is being used in a crucial role, and it is in contact with soil, then the inspector recommends removal of the soil. For example, if a structural post under the house is buried the risk for extensive damage, the result of rot, cannot be ignored. Another example: Outside columns that support high decks should be kept well away from soil. High decks can come down if the columns rot.
Now, if an inspector finds a couple pressure treated 4x4's, for support of a handrail, sunk into the earth at the steps from a low deck, that is a relatively minor concern. Usually the inspector will probe the lumber at the ground level and, if it is sound, not think or say much about it. No grading is applicable, since the posts are sunk into the ground, in part to make the rail steady. Pressure treated lumber is commonly used in simple outdoor applications and, down the road, any repair should be simple to do and the area easy to access. Should there be a problem at some point, a workman who is affordable can perform the repair and no structural damage is likely to have occurred. That makes this an appropriate use of pressure treated lumber.
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/home-inspections-pressure-treated-lumber-what-to-look-for-294599.html
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Phoenix MLS: Investing in Ahwatukee Phoenix Real Estate
By: Philip Rosenberg | 26/09/2006 | Non-Fiction
Ahwatukee was once described to me as "the poor man's Scottsdale". I've lived in both Scottsdale and Ahwatukee and although "poor man's" does not quite fit the bill, the fact is you are able to get much more for your money in Ahwatukee. Further, that Ahwatukee is giving back an equal or better return on property values than Scottsdale.
Remodeling Never Hire Your Handyman Friend or Relative
By: Devin Hansen | 06/07/2007 | Home and Family
Perhaps you are interested in remodeling your home but you are on a limited budget. You may have a friend or relative who's performed simple repairs for you, such as plastering or painting, and he offers to do your home remodel for much less than what an established contractor might charge.
Signs of Problems When Buying a House
By: Gina Labarbera | 26/02/2008 | Real Estate
When buying a home, some people put more importance on the color of the walls than the condition of the roof. Paint color is an easy thing to change, but replacing a roof is a costly undertaking. Always hire a trained home inspector before you finally purchase a home, but use these tips as a guideline to help you weed out some of the potentially serious problems during the first walk-through.
All Arizona Real Estate Buyers Should Read This
By: Philip Rosenberg | 26/09/2006 | Non-Fiction
The investors literally invaded the Valley of the Sun including Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Chandler and Gilbert and bought everything in sight.
Virtual Sunroom Tours: The E-Z Way to Buy
By: Devin Hansen | 06/07/2007 | Home and Family
Sunrooms, also known as solariums, allow homeowners to enjoy the outdoors without facing fluctuating or inclement weather conditions. Sunrooms are much more than screened-in porches, as most of them feature advanced roofing and window systems, increasing your homes energy efficiency while creating a space filled with light and warmth, even during cold winters.
Essential Mobile and Manufactured Home Jargon
By: Eric Badgely | 04/03/2008 | Real Estate
Mobile and manufactured homes, being different than stick-built homes, have some of their own unique components and systems. Many of the terms are unfamiliar to the uninitiated. The article below will de-mystify some of the language associated with these homes.
What is an Home Appraisal?
By: Philip Rosenberg | 05/12/2006 | Non-Fiction
Understanding what an appraisal is, and how it is done can help maximize the appraised property's value.
Storm Doors: Should I or Shouldnt I
By: Devin Hansen | 06/07/2007 | Home and Family
If you ask a door manufacturer or salesman this question, he or she will probably ask a series of questions to access your individual needs and requirements regarding the installation of a storm door. Below is a list of factors to consider when deciding whether to add storm doors to your home.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Real Estate Articles
Chennai's Expanding Real Estate Market
By: George Gonigal | 21/08/2008
Chennai is experiencing an extensive real estate growth in past one year. Chennai real estate developers are having a good business deal happening during this period of time.
Mortgage Bill by End of Year to Boost Property Market in Northern Cyprus
By: Linda Cartwright | 20/08/2008
Sungur: A Mortgage Bill has been proposed, for approval by the end of this year, in Northern Cyprus.
The plans are set to boost property market, and some experts suggest that the move will also benefit ex-pats.
A draft mortgage bill prepared by the Estate Agents Union has been presented to the...
Achieving Your First Property
By: Joaquin Costa | 20/08/2008
Buying your first home is not easy, but for sure it is rewarding when you manage to safe and pay for the deposit of your new home.
House Door Choices
By: Ed Terran | 20/08/2008
When you decide to remodel and want to change out doors, do not forget a couple of important factors. The style must match your décor or the doors are not going to enhance your home. They will actually take away from the look you are trying to achieve. The fittings...
We Buy House Professionals Taking Advantage Of The Slow Real Estate Market
By: Shaun Greer | 20/08/2008
Real estate investors are buying houses while other home buyers are sitting on the side lines
Chinese Developers Look For Foreign Funding
By: Gregory Smyth | 20/08/2008
The Chinese property market and property management in China have largely been a domestic affair in recent years, with tight government controls to ensure that speculative inflows remained at a minimum. However, the government is now wanting to cool down the rampantly growing real estate market in China, and as such is looking for foreign investment.
The Benefits to Purchasers of Home Auctions
By: Patricia Stevens | 20/08/2008
The real estate opportunity is huge, especially the foreclosure and tax lien market. Read about the income being created by everyday indivduals.
Right Now is the Time to Buy Real Estate in Provo, Utah
By: Art Gib | 20/08/2008
Real estate has never been easier to find or more affordable in Provo, Utah. For a short time, the market hit a decline and prices lowered.
More from Eric Badgely
A Buyers Agent Can Save You Time and Money
By: Eric Badgely | 22/07/2008 | Real Estate
You search and search, viewing dozens of properties online, you call on ads from the newspaper and real estate magazines, yet you still haven’t found the right home. What are you missing?
When the Appearance Can Make the Sale
By: Eric Badgely | 22/07/2008 | Real Estate
In today’s declining market, the importance of home appeal is becoming more and more apparent. So what can you do to make your home more appealing to buyers?
Vinyl Siding Maintenance
By: Eric Badgely | 28/03/2008 | Home Improvement
Vinyl siding is a common siding. It is popular with many homeowners because it does not require painting. On the other hand, it is still a relatively high maintenance product for other reasons.
Water Pressure and Standard Variations What a Buyer Should Know
By: Eric Badgely | 28/03/2008 | Real Estate
Homebuyers are often concerned about the water pressure at a home they plan to purchase. On the other hand, to complicate matters, it seems that no two homebuyers agree on what is satisfactory water pressure. Realizing that, home inspectors try to provide their clients with a water pressure reading that they can analyze and evaluate on their own.
Underground Fuel Tanks What Buyers Should Know
By: Eric Badgely | 16/03/2008 | Real Estate
When it is disclosed, or discovered, that an old underground fuel tank exists on a lot, that can create a number of problems at closing. The information below is current and provides insight into how to best deal with this possibility so complications, and delays at closing, can be avoided.
Lead Based Paint What a Buyer Should Know
By: Eric Badgely | 16/03/2008 | Real Estate
Anytime a person buys an older home, it is only logical to assume that some lead-based paint is on the premises. Typically, this is not much of a concern unless the paint is flaking off or if a major renovation is planned.
The Facts About Septic Tank Inspections
By: Eric Badgely | 11/03/2008 | Real Estate
There are a number of reasons why the standard home inspection does not include a detailed inspection of septic systems. The article below gives insight into some of the problems a home inspector would run into if he or she attempted to inspect septic systems.
Private Wells What a Buyer Should Know
By: Eric Badgely | 11/03/2008 | Real Estate
Buyers, purchasing a home with a well for the first time, often know nothing about the biology or mechanics of a well. The brief article below will provide some simple but essential information.
|
|
Finance 
