# PT lumber deck: sand the railings? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378 "2026-08-17T13:51:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/1 "2026-08-17T13:51:27Z")
We just had our front deck replaced. Like the others, it’s constructed entirely of pressure treated lumber. There has arisen some controversy about the tops of the railings, 2X6 boards – should they be sanded to eliminate any splinters and rough spots? Would you assume that they would of course be sanded? Or would you say you’ve never heard of such a thing? Or somewhere in between? Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/2 "2026-08-17T16:46:03Z")
I have always sanded as needed with an orbital sander. Round over the edges also. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/3 "2026-08-17T16:49:40Z")
Sanding PT wood produces toxic dust, so wear appropriate breathing protection if you do choose to do so. Are you planning to paint it? If you’re just going to leave it bare, it may look crappy after sanding. > **[5 Reasons You Should Never Sand Pressure Treated Wood — Sand & Stain](https://www.sand-stain.com/blog/5-reasons-you-should-never-sand-pressure-treated-wood)** > > You’ve got pressure treated wood and you want to maintain so it lasts and looks its best in the process. You may have heard or read in our articles that sanding prep work is essential before staining, sealing, or finishing a deck. > > This is true to... ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/4 "2026-08-17T16:55:44Z")
We did sand. And yes you need to protect your lungs. When the wood was dry enough to stain we we applied a good penetrating stain. If it’s high traffic, like hand rails on steps, it will soon get smooth. Just watch for checking and cracking and obvious big splinters. We’ve never had too much problem with splinters, I don’t think. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/5 "2026-08-17T17:01:54Z")
If you sand pressure treated wood and don’t police up your dust, you will be contaminating your soil with whatever chemicals used to treat the wood. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/6 "2026-08-17T23:08:16Z")
I’d use TREX for railings/anything your bare hands or ass are gonna touch. Slight Hijack: Any PT lumber I’ve ever dealt with has warped like a dog’s hind leg. I got a Brand-New one outside right now that was going to be used in a landscaping project, and after a week it is twisted like a pretzel. Unusable. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/7 "2026-08-18T19:35:35Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’d use TREX for railings/anything your bare hands or ass are gonna touch. We had our deck redone a few years ago with thermally modified wood. It’s heated in a kiln for an extended period to partially polymerize the fibres. It makes it both insect and burn resistant without the use of chemicals. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/8 "2026-08-18T19:53:47Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > We had our deck redone a few years ago with thermally modified wood. Neat! I didn’t know this was a thing, but I’ll have to keep it in mind when it’s time to have our deck remodeled. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/9 "2026-08-18T20:46:29Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > When the wood was dry enough to stain we we applied a good penetrating stain. The best stain in the world only penetrates to about 1/16 inch. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pt-lumber-deck-sand-the-railings/1032378/10 "2026-08-19T12:55:51Z")
Pressure treated wood never feels nice. It’s okay for your shoes, but for the railings I’d prefer something else. Can you still get cedar railings? Redwood? There are lots of naturally water-resistant words that are nicer than pt. They cost more, too, but you didn’t need a ton of wood for the railings.