Why Today’s Wood Needs Protection

Craftspeople and builders love reclaimed wood, but not just for its distressed aesthetics.

A look at wood from 1918 and 2018 reveals a significant difference. See this comparison found on Reddit. Old wood, dating back to 1918, has 60 rings, whereas newer wood from 2018 has fewer rings. Wood from 100 years ago had a more dense composition making it stronger and more resistant to insects.

Today’s wood is grown and harvested much faster than in the past. What would sound like good news, also brings caution. While we can produce more wood more quickly, the wood may not be as strong or durable, especially if it’s harvested too early.

That’s why some builders prefer reclaimed wood. They say old-growth lumber from virgin forests, grew more slowly with limited light and competition from other trees. This combination led to trees with dense fibers, which makes for stronger lumber. These builders say older trees were more rot-resistance, as well as more stable due to their density.

Today’s tree farms use faster-growing species that can be harvest in as little as ten years. Researchers at the University of Tennessee find that the quality in fast-grown trees isn’t necessarily lower, but it needs to be allowed to mature. With good forestry practices, today’s wood can also be of high quality.

The bottom line, according to Science Daily: Even though a greater volume of wood grows today, it now contains less material than just a few decades ago.

Using old-growth wood isn’t practical or cost-effective in most new construction, so what can you do when you are building a new deck to ensure it lasts for years to come? Protect it from water damage and rot. One sure way to do this is to seal the deck’s joists and beams with deck protection tape during construction.

A butyl-based tape is stickier, endures less staining, and has less oozing during high temperatures than asphalt tape. Butyl tape is also more rubbery and flows around screws making for a tighter seal and can be installed in a wider range of temperatures.

For an average size deck, you’ll need about five rolls of Trex Protect Joist Tape and one roll of Trex Protect Beam Tape. For less than a $100 investment, the deck substructure can last as long as the decking it supports.

Today’s wood can last for years to come with the right planning and installation. Protect your deck with Trex Protect.