E
Elite Edition

Can pressure treated wood be in contact with concrete

Author

Sarah Martinez

Published Apr 24, 2026

Can pressure treated wood sit on concrete? – Quora. YES. Any exterior concrete that is in contact with earth may wick moisture. Thus, it is required to place pressure treated wood directly against the concrete if one wishes next to build off that concrete with untreated wood.

Can pressure treated wood touch concrete?

Wood in direct contact with concrete, and the dampness often found there, will rapidly decay. To avoid this, use pressure-treated lumber. … This indicates that the wood contains a quarter of a pound of preservative per cubic foot, which is sufficient for use against exposed concrete, outdoors as well as in.

What should I put between wood and concrete?

Anyplace where wood meets the ground or concrete, the lumber must be pressure treated. For additional moisture protection, a gasket or strip of closed-cell foam can be installed between the concrete foundation and the sill plate.

Can pressure treated wood touch the ground?

Ground-contact pressure-treated lumber can be used either above ground or in contact with the ground. Has twice the level of chemical retention and protection compared to above-ground treated wood. Must be used when lumber is less than 6 inches from the ground or has poor ventilation.

How long will a 4x4 post last in concrete?

A pressure treated 4×4 set in concrete should last about 20 years of more, depending on the soil conditions and drainage.

Can I use pressure-treated wood for garden box?

Modern Pressure-Treated Lumber According to the American Wood Protection Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, lumber treated with ACQ is safe for garden use. Its durability and nontoxicity make it among the best woods for raised garden beds.

How long will a pressure-treated 4x4 post last in the ground?

A treated 4×4 will last 20 to 25 years in the ground if the conditions in the soil and climate are favorable. That number could increase to 40 to 75 years if you install the treated 4×4 in a cement ring rather than the soil.

Can you use pressure treated wood for foundation?

House foundations of pressure- treated wood may be used for basement or crawl space walls. … To construct a basement with treated wood walls, the ground is excavated, then gravel or crushed stone is spread over the excava- tion. Next, a treated wood footing plate is placed on the gravel or crushed stone fill.

How do you keep pressure-treated wood from rotting?

The best way to protect from pressure-treated wood rot is to apply a deck preservative. Like we mentioned earlier, stains, paints and sealants are the best choice to use. You can find these items easily at the local hardware store.

How do you keep wood from rotting in concrete?
  1. Wet Rot Vs. Dry Rot. …
  2. Choose Rot Resistant Wood. …
  3. Dry the Fence Posts Out. …
  4. Consider Adding Posts to Concrete. …
  5. Apply Preservative to the Wooden Post. …
  6. Consider Staining Your Wood. …
  7. Start Digging. …
  8. Fill Up the Hole.
Article first time published on

Do pressure-treated posts rot in concrete?

Simply setting the posts in concrete does create a condition that will accelerate rot in the bottom of the posts. With pressure-treated posts, the rot will be slow. … This allows any moisture that gets between the concrete and the bottom of the post to percolate through the gravel and away from the bottom of the post.

Does wood rot in concrete?

Moisture is woods natural enemy. … With concrete holding the moisture against the wood, wood has no chance and will eventually lose the battle. Now you don’t have to lose all hope because it’s for certain that the concrete around the post will crack, therefore making it easy to pull out when it starts to rot.

Should I concrete my deck posts?

A deck post should always be placed on top of footing, not inside concrete because it can break. … When concrete is poured around a deck post in this way, the post will rot due to moisture buildup by the soil.

Can I pour concrete around deck posts?

There is a concrete footing there now but they will eventually pour 4″ of concrete over that. … These issues combined create a significant rot problem, as water can get to the post and the post is not able to breath, being surrounded by concrete. To remedy this, you will want to look for a post standoff.

Should fence post be set in concrete?

Do Fence Posts Need To Be Set in Concrete? No, fence posts don’t need to be set in concrete, and there are plenty of other ways to fix your posts if this feels a bit too permanent. If you are using wooden posts, concrete may actually be the worst option.

Is pressure treated wood waterproof?

No, pressure-treated wood isn’t waterproof. The chemical preservatives present in the wood can’t protect it from decay. That means pressure-treated wood can absorb moisture and rot over time. However, you can waterproof and seal pressure-treated wood to protect it against water damage.

Does pressure treated wood still contain arsenic?

For many years, the only real choice of pressure-treated lumber was wood treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). … As the name would seem to indicate, it did contain arsenic, which leached into the soil and could contaminate the plants in your garden.

Are concrete blocks safe for raised beds?

There is no need to worry about using concrete blocks to build raised garden beds. There have been claims that the materials used to make the concrete blocks have harmful chemicals that may leach into the soil potentially damaging or even contaminating crops. However, there is no “concrete” proof of that.

Will painting pressure treated wood make it rot?

Another common question we often get asked is whether painting your pressure-treated lumber will cause it to rot? Generally speaking, creating conditions that trap moisture in wood will make decay more likely.

How do you protect pressure treated wood underground?

  1. Surround the submerged wood with cement. …
  2. Dig the hole to the desired depth for stability. …
  3. Pour about 2 inches of cement into the hole and lower the pole or beam into the hole. …
  4. Seal the wood before submerging it. …
  5. Add rocks to the hole.

What happens if you don't stain pressure treated wood?

The effects that can occur due to a lack of treatment are aesthetic in nature. After 6 months, the wood will start to lose its color and will begin to fade. Ultimately it will fade to grey or silver. This is not a problem in and of itself, and some people prefer this look for their decks.

How is chemically treated lumber used in foundations?

“Foundation-grade” wood used in foundations is treated by steam-impregnating it with a chemical called CCA (chromated copper arsenate) at a concentration of at least . … The copper part of the compound is toxic to fungus, mold and bacteria, while the arsenate is toxic to pests like carpenter ants and termites.

How long does a pressure treated wood foundation last?

In case you didn’t know; accelerated laboratory testing of modern pressure treated materials indicates a lifetime of over 100 years with no serious deterioration, and the durability of the systems has been amply demonstrated over the long-term by in-ground tests conducted over the past 40 years by various Federal …

Is wood foundation better than concrete?

Unlike concrete, treated wood doesn’t absorb moisture, rather it wicks away. Concrete contains moisture in it’s makeup and easily absorbs moisture from it’s surroundings. In heavy rains and harsh conditions, wood is quicker to dry than concrete.

Can you pour concrete against wood?

This would separate the concrete and the Tyvek, and thus isolate the wood from the slab moisture. … I know from 2 years’ research in the field of ICF construction that putting concrete directly up against untreated wood is an absolute no – no as far as long-term durability goes.

How do you prepare wood for ground contacts?

The best way to treat wood for ground contact is soaking the part of the wood that will have contact with the ground in wood preservative for 20 minutes. Then paint the part of the wood with a thick layer of the same wood preservative. Let the wood dry overnight before you put it in the ground.

How long will a pressure treated fence last?

But how long do pressure-treated wooden fences actually last? From what we’ve seen during our last 12 years of business, a typical pressure-treated wooden fence lifespan is about 15-20 years. Around the 15-year mark is when most homeowners report seeing noticeable aesthetic declines, like rotting and splitting.

How long will a 6x6 treated post last in concrete?

A PT post will last a long time in concrete, maybe 5 to 10 years in soil alone. I suggest you embed the post in concrete, trowel a peak around the post so water runs off, and don’t let the PT post come in contact with the ground.

How long will a treated 4x4 last in water?

Pressure treated is guaranteed for 30 years in direct water contact, and mine has been in for 16 years.

Will decking posts rot in concrete?

The post will only rot at ground level, it does not matter what you put in the bottom of the hole. A pressure treated post will last around 10 years. if you use metposts the post will still rot they just make it easier to replace & in my opinion they look horrible.

How long will pressure treated wood last outside?

It depends on the climate, the type of wood, its uses, and how well it’s maintained. While pressure treated poles can stay up to 40 years without any signs of rot or decay, decks and flooring might only last around 10 years.