Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
We get a lot of action in the comments about how water that gets into our Post-Protector wood deck footings (that can also drain, by the way) and while it makes sense on the surface that water rots wood, it doesn't. It takes more than that.
What actually "rots" wood is decay fungi in the ground, AKA at "grade".
The first layer of protection for wood is preservative "treatment". Treatment really mean we render the lumber poisonous to this decay fungi that have been eating fallen Sequoias and the wood chips from a wood chipper for eons. They exist to turn wood back into earth.
But, the treatment doesn't last forever, so the Code has come up with an elegant solution: Isolate the wood--food source--from the decay fungi. Most people interpret this as expensive, labor intensive concrete piers and brackets.
I interpret it as a barrier between the earth and the post. The astounding amount of time and shovel work this saves me on my deck building projects is awesome.
So what does cause wood rot? It's kind of a 3-legged stool. The decay fungi are a given, but they need three other things to do their business: A food source (wood), an acceptable temperature, AND moisture. Take one of the legs of the stool away--Post-Protector does it by isolating the food source from everything else--and the problem disappears. Mold works the same way, by the way -- Moisture + Temperature + Food Source = Mold
But contractors and others insist water is the enemy of wood. OK.
Post-Protector now makes a Post-Protector cap that'll keep water out of the system. It's a 2-piece system. Piece_1 is a gutter. Gob that up with Lexel or similar. Piece_2 is a decorative cap. Slide it over Piece_1 and seal that if you want.
Thing is, wherever you land on this spectrum, it looks kinda cool, too. What's not to love?
👉 For more DIY Tips and how-to, subscribe to MyFixitUpLife: youtube.com/user/myfixituplife?sub_confirmation=1
👉 To learn more about MyFixitUpLife with Mark & Theresa: http://linktr.ee/myfixituplife
👉For more about post protector: youtube.com/shorts/HWrXe6pFiGk?si=kMO2TcaNHtrDNFAM
We get a lot of action in the comments about how water that gets into our Post-Protector wood deck footings (that can also drain, by the way) and while it makes sense on the surface that water rots wood, it doesn't. It takes more than that.
What actually "rots" wood is decay fungi in the ground, AKA at "grade".
The first layer of protection for wood is preservative "treatment". Treatment really mean we render the lumber poisonous to this decay fungi that have been eating fallen Sequoias and the wood chips from a wood chipper for eons. They exist to turn wood back into earth.
But, the treatment doesn't last forever, so the Code has come up with an elegant solution: Isolate the wood--food source--from the decay fungi. Most people interpret this as expensive, labor intensive concrete piers and brackets.
I interpret it as a barrier between the earth and the post. The astounding amount of time and shovel work this saves me on my deck building projects is awesome.
So what does cause wood rot? It's kind of a 3-legged stool. The decay fungi are a given, but they need three other things to do their business: A food source (wood), an acceptable temperature, AND moisture. Take one of the legs of the stool away--Post-Protector does it by isolating the food source from everything else--and the problem disappears. Mold works the same way, by the way -- Moisture + Temperature + Food Source = Mold
But contractors and others insist water is the enemy of wood. OK.
Post-Protector now makes a Post-Protector cap that'll keep water out of the system. It's a 2-piece system. Piece_1 is a gutter. Gob that up with Lexel or similar. Piece_2 is a decorative cap. Slide it over Piece_1 and seal that if you want.
Thing is, wherever you land on this spectrum, it looks kinda cool, too. What's not to love?
👉 For more DIY Tips and how-to, subscribe to MyFixitUpLife: youtube.com/user/myfixituplife?sub_confirmation=1
👉 To learn more about MyFixitUpLife with Mark & Theresa: http://linktr.ee/myfixituplife
👉For more about post protector: youtube.com/shorts/HWrXe6pFiGk?si=kMO2TcaNHtrDNFAM
