Pressure-treated lumber is wood, like pine or fir, that has been injected with a preservative in order to make it last longer on outdoor projects like fencing or decks.

When cutting thick pieces of wood, such as fence posts, the preservative may not have soaked all the way to the center of the lumber.

After cutting the piece to length, use a brush to coat the end grain with an additional dose of preservative to make sure it won’t rot.

Another approach that works even better is to stand the post up in a bucket of preservative and let it soak overnight.

Editorial Contributors
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Joe Truini

Radio Show Co-Host

Joe Truini is a contractor, author, and the host of “Simple Solutions” on Today’s Homeowner TV and the weekly Today’s Homeowner radio show. He has worked on both large commercial projects and residential remodeling, and has written for national publications such as This Old House and Popular Mechanics. He has also written eight books, including three best-selling shed-building books. Joe lives in Connecticut with his family and enjoys hiking, traveling, and baseball in his spare time.

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