Harvested Pine Posts: What to Expect When Preparing Them for Treatment
Pine posts are very instrumental when it comes to construction. They can act as pillars for a wooden structure instead of using other materials like concrete. However, you should note that such pillars making contact with the ground are prone to constant attack by organisms that destroy wood.
They are also victims of chemical and mechanical deterioration because of acidic rains, prolonged exposure to sunlight and chemicals components in the soil. Particularly, the destruction of the wood worsens from six to twelve inches below the ground where temperature, air and moisture conditions encourage fungi and insects to thrive. If you have just bought some pine posts, here is what to expect and know when preparing them for treatment:
Cutting and Peeling the Posts
Weather and climate have a huge role to play when preparing your pine posts for treatment. Posts cut during the summer or spring seasons peel faster compared to posts cut during the winter. This can be attributed to the water content levels in the trunks. Treatment is done after peeling the posts for the best results.
After peeling, make pointed cuts on the side that will be driven into the ground while the top side should be gently sloping. You can use an ax, barking spud, drawknife, flat-bladed shovel or an old worn shovel to remove the bark from the posts as you ready thes for the succeeding stages of the preparation stages. Note that you can do the cutting and peeling yourself to cut down on the amount of money you will be charged later on.
Seasoning the Posts
Seasoning is another important stage when preparing your pine posts for treatment. It cuts down on the moisture content held by the post, leading to desirable shrinking and splitting before you treat and use the posts. Preferably, the posts should be piled on sound wood or stone support twenty inches above the ground. This will ensure proper circulation around the posts during the seasoning period that should last anywhere between one and three months.
Incising the Posts
After cutting and peeling the posts, the next stage is creating incisions that will help to make the treatment effective. Unlike the first stage, a wood treatment specialist should deal with the incision. This stage involves making rings of incisions throughout the cross-section of the pine posts. The lower sections of the post are very sensitive considering that they are prone to regular attack in the soil. Unlike other areas, the lower sections require uniformity in the depth of the incisions. This will optimise protection by the treatment chemical.