Thread: Cracking Posts

There probably not much you can do. Were the post cut recently and do they have the pith in them still?
At 250 mm SQ I would say that they still have the pith or heart in them. Unless they have been racked and air drying for at least 5 to 10 yrs I doubt you would stop the cracking.
Cypress is pretty well known to split and check

wait a year or two until they have shrunk.
then try and fill em.
you have used green posts and they are cracking while drying. especially pyramid cut you have exposed a much bigger area of end grain.

If you hate it replace them with something that is dry maybe recycled and make sure they are well sealed straight up.

I have used those Cypress Gold posts as handrail supports on my deck, which is only a few months old. It comes wrapped in plastic to stop it cracking before it's delivered but once up, they are cracking, some worse than others. A few I've filled and repainted, so far so good. The guy from Bowens told me it's expected and just to do what i've been doing and fill them. The tops of mine are covered by the wide hand rail so only the sides are exposed. Still they crack.

Hi, just an idea, but dont some farmers put tin over the top of their strainer posts to stop water absorbtion/ cracking. Maybe you could make up something as a decorative feature to achieve the same goal.
Shoot this down in flames if you like.

Hmmmm. Thanks guys. Yes the timber is green so can't expect much else I suppose. The idea of a cap would be effective in keeping the water out but splitting is going to carry on by the sounds of it.
cheers
Muzza

Welcome to the club, Muzza.

I built a deck out the back a few years ago, also with Cypress posts (allegedly kiln-dried ) and pyramid cut caps... and they started splitting from day one. At one stage I was afraid they'd need replacing within a couple of years, I couldn't see 'em splitting any more and still retain any structural integrity!

However after two or three years they've finally stabilised, I was out there the other day thinking "Damn! Time to break out the oils again" when I noticed that they're no worse than they were the year before. Still pretty fugly, but.