# Split/rotted exterior timbers - What comes BEFORE the obvious **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 27, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/split-rotted-exterior-timbers-what-comes-before-the-obvious/469856 "2008-10-27T22:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/split-rotted-exterior-timbers-what-comes-before-the-obvious/469856/1 "2008-10-27T22:53:32Z")
OK, dig out rot, apply wood hardener (good stuff, btw), spackle and paint. This I know. But - the poor (decorative) 4x6’s (and the occasional 2x6) have been baking for close to 30 years - most are showing some splittting, a couple are beyound help. But: Isn’t there something to “re-moisturize” the wood to keep it from splitting more? My first thought was linseed oil - a quick review indicqates otherwise. Is there something to undo the lack of maintenance? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/split-rotted-exterior-timbers-what-comes-before-the-obvious/469856/2 "2008-10-27T23:52:10Z")
Is this treated wood? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/split-rotted-exterior-timbers-what-comes-before-the-obvious/469856/3 "2008-10-28T02:58:58Z")
1980’s tract house - (probably) dried doug fir (Home Depot et. al. weren’t yet spewing green lumber in all directions