Tip of the Month – March 2010

The world is not flat.... and neither should your horizontal wood surfaces be if it can be avoided.  Aside from wrought iron that gets irrigated by sprinkler systems, probably the second most vulnerable surfaces in your community are horizontal wood surfaces.  This includes pot shelves, balcony railing, stair railing, etc.  Any surface that is flat and horizontal allows moisture to just sit on it.  Regardless of what type of paint is used on them, the moisture eventually permeates the surface and begins to deteriorate the wood.  This condition is exacerbated by the expansion and contraction of the wood, causing the paint to crack.  Some paint products that have a greater elasticity to them help to counter this effect but are not a cure-all.

So, it is best to have an slope to the top of the wood surface when possible.  Some hand rails have a rounded or crowned top to them to prevent water from sitting on them.  Wider balcony caps can be pitched at the center, causing the moisture to drain off both sides.  Pot shelves can have a very slight fall to them to encourage the water to run off.  Frankly, pot shelves (in my humble opinion) should not be used for potted plants.  The constant watering of plants leads to the early demise of the wood surfaces.  We have removed many pot shelves in communities and applied stucco where the shelves were attached. 

So, if you’re replacing wood and it involves horizontal surfaces,  ask your favorite contractor (you know who I mean) about different options that will help to extend the life of the wood components.  If your budget doesn’t permit replacement of horizontal wood surfaces, routine inspection and maintenance can greatly help to reduce the effects of the exposure to the elements.