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Understanding Wood Water Absorption

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2:58
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Learn why decks fail and how to install a deck 💪 #decks #learn #carpentry #flashing

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What happens here

The presenter uses a small piece of wood and blue-colored water to illustrate how water penetrates wood. Water does not easily penetrate across the wood grain, but it can travel up through the end grain very easily. This demonstration highlights the importance of protecting end grain, especially in deck construction, to prevent moisture damage and rot.

Goal: Visualize and understand how water is absorbed by wood.

Tools and materials

  • Pencil — Pointing
  • Small Wood Piece — Demonstrating water penetration
  • Water Bottle — Holding the blue liquid for demonstration
  • Blue Liquid — Visually demonstrating water absorption

What they say

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Augers are a lot easier. Pour concrete. Either bury a post 1 ft minimum, wet set a bracket, or mark and drill out a bracket that has stand-off. If this corrodes or the bottom of the post rots, it's much easier to replace. Water doesn't easily penetrate a cross grain, but it can easily travel up through end grain. Add a temp screw and level out your joist. Measure down your footing and cut your post. Laminate your beam from both sides. Install your beam. Either lag your beam or install a post to beam connector.

Auto-generated from the video audio.