I just had a deck built, and ponied up for premium decking and railing. The contractor slopped a few things, including putting Vycor tape between the beams and joists. A few experienced builder friends commented that it appeared no end cut treatment had been applied to any of the exposed cuts on the treated wood (beams, joists, stringers, etc), though the contractor insists some was applied. Is there any way to verify whether or not sealant was applied to the cuts?
Rental Property Investor · Western Washington · Member since 2018 · 151 posts · 60 votes
3y
@Pat Murphy If there is any question about sealant being applied or not I would just hire someone else or go out there yourself and apply it. Sealant is somewhat cheap and simple to apply. Better safe than sorry with rotted would on a new deck. I would recommend reapplying sealant every year to the entire deck if it is all wood.
@Pat Murphy Typically, end cut treatment will have a distinct color or sheen that can be easily identified. If you are unsure, you can also use a moisture meter to test the moisture content of the wood. Treated wood should have a lower moisture content than untreated wood.