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Old 10-29-2016, 08:09 AM   #15
DavidM
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City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
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There are at least two grades of pressure treated lumber: above grade and below grade (or water). The above grade stuff is the typical Home Depot stuff. The below grade is used for deck posts that are driven into the ground or ground/water.


I think you will be fine using the Home Depot stuff for replacement decking, cross members or stringers.


FWIW I would take your contractor's statement that he uses "all stainless steel screws and bolts" with a huge grain of salt.


Galvanized steel is the standard for dock builders. When our 25 year old dock was destroyed in Irene, I personally pulled apart 30-40' of decking that washed up on my back porch. The nails held well and only had a little corrosion at the board/stringer interface. No corrosion inside the treated lumber. The bolts had no corrosion, and I reused them for another waterside project. These were 25 years old.


It sounds like he is a home deck builder where SS screws are used, more for aesthetics IMO. Even so, his estimates sound high.


David
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