I would use Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty. It is not necessarily recommended for exterior use, but I have used with excellent results.
(top posted for your convenience) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Keep the whole world singing . . . . DanG (remove the sevens) snipped-for-privacy@7cox.net
They have finished the new deck. That's a good thing.
There are a couple of knot holes in the top surface of a couple of the railing header, however, and, that's a bad thing.
These holes are not through and through, just ugly pits that will collect water and make for ant sized skating rinks in the winter. Sorry, I can't afford to but skates for the ants.
The railing headers are pressure treated. Does anybody have any suggestions for a type of filler to use in these pesky holes prior to sealing so that the till material does not come out.
I am considering boring them in with a forstner bit and making wooden plugs, but that is a lot of work if there is a simpler solution.
Would filling them with a build up of Gorilla glue work? Or should I be looking at something like an outdoor version of plastic wood? How would these products react with the chemicals in the lumber?
Thanks for any thoughtful and insightful suggestions. ____________________ Bill Waller New Eagle, PA
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And he'll say, sure, that'll cost you $XXX. The decking materials were (should have been) spec'd in the contract. Unless, the owner asked for and bought clear wood, the contractor is unlikely to throw it in for free - particularly after the other stuff has been installed.
R
I'd either go with the wood plugs, or use a two part epoxy as filler. Mask around the knot hole edges before spreading the epoxy.
R
suggestions for
While they are cosmetic, and may not affect the board integrity, an area in wood that holds water is never a good thing. You could try calling the deck guy back in to see if they will replace the board(s).
AMUN
The OP won't know unless (s)he asks.
As the OP doesn't say the whole deck is full of loose knots, the rest of the wood may be quite clean.
Could be the "boss" just had an idiot working that day, didn't check the final job, will agree that the top board with rough knots should have never been used there. And change it in a few minutes.
For $10.00 worth of wood, that he could still use at another job. After getting perhaps $2,000+ for the deck.
He might just change it to keep a customer happy.
I would. And not all contractors/tradesmen are thieves. Some, but not all.
AMUN
Not sure where the thieving comes in as the OP didn't mention feeling ripped off. He was asking about filling the holes himself, didn't mention that anything more was owed him. I think you're assuming something here, but you're right, there's no harm in asking. It might annoy the contractor if it turns out the owner is asking for a freebie he isn't entitled to, but that's not the end of the world.
I use the best pieces of wood for the handrails as a rule. The handrails are the only part of the deck you touch with your hands and are closest to your eyes while standing. Maybe the knot holes are more objectionable because of those factors, or maybe the guy did use the best STK (small, tight, knots) material for the railing and there are so few knotholes that those that are there are that much more noticeable. Can't tell from here.
To recap:
- Check grade of wood as specified in the contract
- If you're owed clear wood, tell the contractor to replace it
- If it's not included in the contract ask the contractor if he'd replace it if you bought the new materials (splitting the difference, so to speak)
- If the contractor wants you to pay time and materials decide if you want to cough up the cash or fill/plug the holes yourself.
R
Can you even buy PT wood that is clear? Mahogany, yes, Ipe yes, but I've never seen clear PT.
As others have stated, I would go back to "them" and request the boards be replaced, or the issue be resolved. The handrail is not an area where defects are acceptable. If they are worth their salt, they will do the job right. A few boards are worth a lot less than the cost of negative advertising that can result from leaving a customer unhappy.
PME
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