I missed this one – sorry for the super-late reply. I go wakeboarding on Lake Houston a few times per year. There are a number of people around to inspect it for you. Call the guys at Building Products Plus and they will recommend someone good for you – 713-434-8008. I don’t know of any special wood boring stuff in the water in Lake Houston. Overall, I think it’s a pretty clean lake. .60 treated pilings should be fine. If you are paranoid or just want them to last forever, use the poly coated pilings from the guys at Building Products Plus. You’ll notice from reading around this blog I am a HUGE fan of poly coated wood.

Thanks! Enjoy your home (which you are probably already in by now)

Chris

Thanks,
John Campbell
281-360-8262

That’s tough because it’s not really an apples to apples situation. Consider these things:

1. Saltwater is harsher than freshwater BUT you use wood with stronger treatment for saltwater (2.5 pcf versus .60pcf ).

2. Saltwater often has rougher conditions overall – more wave action, salt, more wind but a freshwater place can have rough waves and wind, too.

Vinyl WILL last a lot longer than wood on Toledo Bend. Call Eric Lincoln at Building Products Plus in Houston (the company mentioned above). Eric has about 15 years of experience supplying materials for projects around Toledo Bend (and throughout Texas). (713) 434-8008.

I hope this helps.

Chris