I installed 6x6 pergola posts about 6 months ago and filled it with postcrete. Over the past few months started to notice that they all go nasty cracks all the way through them. All 4 pergola posts have the cracks. These cracks where not there prior to installation. Any ideas why this is happening and will this effect load bearing?
6x6 pergola posts cracking
- Thread starter john2k
- Start date
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These are called 'shakes' and result from differences of moisture content from the timber to the outside - they are normal and shouldn't affect the strength unless they are really serious.
Presumably the posts are of pressure treated timber?
John
Presumably the posts are of pressure treated timber?
John
These are called 'shakes' and result from differences of moisture content from the timber to the outside - they are normal and shouldn't affect the strength unless they are really serious.
Presumably the posts are of pressure treated timber?
John
yes they are all pressure treated and I also painted it further with wood preservative. But the cracks just looked nasty and going all the way down and it's on every post.
Not a great deal you can do about it now, post a pic or two if you can and let's see how bad the shakes are?
John
John
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Not a great deal you can do about it now, post a pic or two if you can and let's see how bad the shakes are?
John
Thanks, will post some pics once i get home. Cosmetically is there some sort of panels that can be used to cover or clad the timber?
Personally I'd just clad the posts with other tantalised timber if it was an issue, and colour it the same as your original posts. I'd be very surprised if the post strength was compromised though!
John
John
Yep, typical shakes, those.....if you are concerned about them, then clad the left and right faces on your photo with 6"x 1" pressure treated timber and bolt through, from left to right.
John
John
D
Doggit
I'd be inclined to tread the shakes with more wood treatment and leave them till they aren't expanding any further, then apply either 2 part wood filler or gripfil (a bit more flexible oddly enough) and the retreat them. It looks as though the timber may not have been left long enough before they cut and planed it, hence more splits than you're normally expect.
Ive put in thousands of posts and what you have experience is pretty normal for the type of post you have used.
This site has some interesting reading on the subject.
https://www.tuin.co.uk/blog/cracking-and-splitting-in-timber/
litl
This site has some interesting reading on the subject.
https://www.tuin.co.uk/blog/cracking-and-splitting-in-timber/
litl
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