How long can wood framing be exposed to weather before it becomes water-damaged? Not having treated lumber is not the end of the world. I'm just wondering how long it will stay good and not rot, if I split it next Spring. A handfull of deck boards started showing signs of rot about 8 years after being installed. bbum/CC-BY-2.0. The glues used to make OSB are water-resistant because the manufacturers know that virtually no one can build a home that won’t get wet before the roof and siding is applied. Lumber that has been factory pre-treated is the best to use for outdoor furniture and other exterior projects. The original 16 x 14 section is about 18 years old. Many different factors affect the time it takes for wood to rot, but spruce trees that die and fall to the forest floor usually disappear within 50 to 100 years. Dry Rot vs. Fallen trees in your yard naturally rot over time as fungi and bacteria slowly decompose the carbon in the tree and stump. The wood that is exposed would be your standard 2x4's, plywood, and joists. Coat it with Thompson's waterseal and it will last forever - this is very important to the life of the wood. Antonius J. Unfortunately 2 of the large logs are on the ground holding the others off the ground. But these facts do not give you or your builder an unlimited license to allow water to saturate the lumber or stand in puddles on the flat floor surfaces for weeks or months on end. Just wondering how long it takes for real wood rot to set in. The 4 x 6 Posts; 2 x 8 (12"o/c) joists; 5/4" decking and associated railings and benches are in very good condition. I'm sure they're gonna rot if I don't get them off the ground. At this point I don't cover the wood, and except for brushing off the snow before I use it, it's been ok that way. How long does it take for a 2×4 to rot? Wet rot looks wet and it requires repair or replacement of the affected wood. To be on the safe side, enlist the help of a professional whenever you spot rot in your home. Treated lumber lasts 20 years and regular lumber last 10 years - give or take a few years. Additionally, how long does it take a 2x4 to rot? It would take many months of being wet for the framing lumber to start to rot. Wet Rot. However, it appears that in practice under field conditions it often takes some considerable time before rot becomes noticeable. Professional Home Repair How Long Does It Take for Wood to Rot? I have a 16 x 32 Deck made exclusively of PT wood. Is it OK for OSB to get rained on? It is recorded in laboratory culture experiments that spores can germinate between 7-10 days following suitable wetting; this may take longer if the spores are older. Untreated lumber, exposed to the elements and moisture, is at risk of weathering and rotting over time. Elder, Chicago, IL. Your framing lumber and the oriented strand board (OSB) are going to be fine. Many homeowners also make the mistake of thinking dry rot is wet rot, which is caused by a different fungus. A: John Spier, a custom-home builder on Block Island, Rhode Island, responds: Most everything we do takes long enough to build that it’s bound to get rained on a few times. By Staff Writer Last Updated Mar 29, 2020 6:34:17 PM ET. I am now about 12 years in and I replace one or two boards every year. How to Decompose Fallen Trees. Can I just fix the leak and then forget about this problem until I eventually (maybe in 10 years) decide to remodel the bathroom or do I need to worry about this further?