See full version: What does salt water do to wood
“You need a Saltwater Splash treatment level of Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) for saltwater framing such as joist and stringers. For saltwater immersion applications, such as pilings and cross bracing, an even heavier treatment of CCA should be used. These too are products stocked at Shoreline Lumber,” said Paluck. [links]
Secondly, what happens to wood in the ocean? In some waterfront areas, driftwood is a major nuisance. However, the driftwood provides shelter and food for birds, fish and other aquatic species as it floats in the ocean. Gribbles, shipworms and bacteria decompose the wood and gradually turn it into nutrients that are reintroduced to the food web. more
Does wood deteriorate in water?
The gradual sloughing off of the wood surface proceeds slowly, and the wood beneath the affected area remains sound. Salt damage has been observed on poles and piles that are still in service after 25–30 years.
Beside above, how do you treat wood for saltwater? [links]
Wood can be too wet to decay. Waterlogged wood will not allow oxygen in to support the growth of fungi. Marine pilings kept fully submerged may never rot. But the fact remains: wood needs water to rot. [links]
For example, 'old growth' timber is much denser than what is harvested now. The timbers were already much more rot resistant from pulling minerals out of the rich soil for decades. Ya just don't get wood like that anymore. 'Old growth' lumber is the way to go. That's all they had back in the day.
But the old timbers were also treated and replaced over the years. I believe they were tarred or pitched. So, you get some treatment, plus salt, and it bodes much better for wood than fresh, sweet water.
There is much more science behind it, which would take into account the am't of UV exposure, the waters it sailed in, the timber density, etc.
Salt tends to make life inconvenient for organisms that contribute to rot. Salt is a natural germ and small organism killer, and is just generally a good sanitizer. [links]
For purposes of the tour, the guide provided good 'food for thought' information. Invariably, when this subject arises, someone (me sometimes, too) will remind others that old timbers are harvested from inland lakes/rivers and such and it's actually a thriving business -- this reclaimed, submerged wood is very valuable. It usually had 'something' going for it in terms of the exact type of water it sat submerged in and how it was actually preserving it because it was halting the rot. But rain water ain't got that 'something' going for it. Rain water bad.
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Prevention of Salt Damage
When electrical components have been exposed to salt, the metal can corrode, which can lead to shorts and other problems. In the best case scenario, an electronic device might just be broken, failing to turn on at all. In others, it might expose people to the risk of electrical shock because of the corrosion. When a home has been flooded with salty or brackish water, the electrical systems need to be flushed with fresh water and then inspected to determine if any or all of the wiring needs to be replaced. That includes the wiring in the walls, the electrical box, and of course any appliances and electronic devices that may have been left in the home. more
Delignification of Wood here
Professional Assessment of Salt Water Damage
If you’ve ever been to the beach, you might have noticed a strange layer of what looks like furry material on pilings and wooden structures facing the ocean. This is the result of what is known as delignification, where saltwater penetration of wood leads to the formation of fuzzy salt crystals on the surface and slowly pulls out lignin, part of the cell wall of the wood. Over time, it can cause structural damage as the salt eats into the wood. In a one-time flooding event, delignification isn’t a significant concern, but it is advisable to use a freshwater flush anyway to prevent salt crystals from forming because they look unsightly. [links]
Like any flood damage, salt water can also lead to mold in the long term if the damage is not handled appropriately. Mold loves moisture, and flooding penetrates hidden corners of a structure that can be very hard to dry. After flooding, everything needs to be thoroughly dried out with heaters and fans to remove moisture that might be embedded in insulation, walls, and other structural components. Flood-damaged material shouldn’t be painted, plastered, or otherwise covered until it is totally dry.
That term "salt water wood" puzzled me at first. They didn't say "drift wood" or limit it to drift wood in the Summit Manual about what not to burn. So did some searching and ended up here:
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Something to think about. Not trying to tell others what to do. But now I understand better why my Century Stove Insert Manual said "cord wood only". [links]
Turns out salt water wood is more encompassing.