YellaWood^® Brand Prime

Pressure treated pine decking balancing value and appearance

YellaWood SuperSelect deck board surface

Close-up of YellaWood SuperSelect deck board grain

YellaWood® brand Prime pressure treated wood for decks offers the same strength as Signature decking but with an improved appearance, ideal when you’re looking for savings but still want to make an impression. With #2 Prime and #1 Prime grades available in 2×6 deck boards, you get a durable deck with a cleaner, more consistent look with minimal to no bark edges, depending on the grade you choose.

YellaWood® brand Prime decking may be available kiln dried after treatment (KDAT) or with RainWood® brand water repellent treatment, depending on your region. Ask your local YellaWood® dealer for details.

Thickness: 2″
Width: 6″ (2×6)
Lengths: 8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’ 20’
Grades: #2 Prime, #1 Prime
Profiles: Radius Milled Edges, Square Edge
Treatments & Finishing: RainWood^® or KDAT available

*Product availability varies by region.

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Prime benefits

Stack of YellaWood SuperSelect deck boards

Popular YellaWood® brand Prime is treated lumber for decks that sits in the sweet spot between standard boards and top-tier visual grades. It uses pressure treated lumber grades in #2 Prime (frequent knots remain, but very minimal bark edges (wane)) and #1 Prime (no wane and fewer knots), so you get cleaner edges and a more consistent surface while retaining strength.

Pressure treated wood for decks that upgrades the appearance over standard, #2 and #1 grade decking boards
Offers a good balance of value and performance for backyard decks
Familiar 2×6 profiles* are stiffer and offer resistance to bending and bowing, allowing them to be installed on joists further apart (max of 24″ with 16″ recommended for firmer support). This makes it easy to plan with and install #1 Prime and #2 Prime lumber
Structural sizes available for #2 Prime grade lumber
Preservative treatment helps protect against rot, fungal decay and termite attack
Less heat retention compared to composite boards
RainWood^® brand waterproof treatment available
Ground Contact Treated**
Renewable resource
Backed by a lifetime limited warranty

*Lumber is provided in nominal sizes. Compare nominal and actual lumber sizes.

**Most Yellawood® dealers carry Ground Contact treated lumber, but some may stock Above Ground as well. Check with your local dealer to confirm the status before you buy and read the yella end tag for details on end use.

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Pressure treated lumber grades matter when you are deciding between #1 Prime vs #2 Prime lumber for your deck.

Compared to standard, #2 and #1 boards, Prime grades give you:

Fewer and smaller knots
Minimal wane and improved edge quality
More consistent appearance across the deck surface

#2 Prime

Still rustic, this is a “good” grade that has frequent knots on visible surfaces, but very minimal wane (bark edges). #2 Prime is the natural step up from YellaWood® brand Signature boards. A popular choice, use #2 Prime for most projects where you want a clean, solid look at a practical price. Structural sizes are also available for #2 Prime.

#1 Prime

This is a “better” grade. Upgrade to #1 Prime when you want more uniform pine decking (fewer knots and no wane) that retains good strength with an enhanced appearance.

YellaWood® brand Prime 2×6 pine decking boards are offered in the profiles used most often on residential decks, so planning your layout stays simple for pros and DIY-ers alike.

Radius Milled Edges:

Offering a slightly rounded or eased edge, these boards are smoother and designed to distribute stress more evenly. Radius milled edges provide a more comfortable surface and promote drainage between boards.

Family relaxing on a covered porch with a KDAT deck

Square Edge:

Featuring straight-cut edges (not rounded) for 90 degree angles, square edge boards are ideal when you need something strong and secure for tight lines. They install easily with front-facing fasteners. YellaWood® brand offers square edges on our 2×6 #2 Prime and #1 Prime grade treated deck boards where extra thickness or a more substantial feel is preferred.

YellaWood® brand Prime pressure treated wood for decks are protected with an MCA treatment. The treatment process drives preservatives deep into the wood to help protect against rot, fungal decay and termite attack. They can also be kiln dried after treatment (KDAT) or have Rainwood^® brand water repellent added after treatment, depending on your region. Rainwood^®brand cannot be applied when lumber is kiln dried after treatment (KDAT).

Consider YellaWood® MasterDeck™ if you’re looking for #1 Prime grade KDAT lumber with hand-selected boards for an even better appearance.

RainWood^® Brand

A factory-applied wax additive, RainWood® brand treatment is applied after the micronized copper azole preservative and assures water resistance on all four sides of the board, providing protection to the sides typically missed by a brush or spray-on repellents applied after installation. It minimizes cracking, warping and twisting due to swelling and shrinking from weather cycles, and it also means you don’t have to worry about applying a stain or seal to your project after installation for up to a year. Availability may vary by dealer.

Kiln-Dried After Treatment (KDAT)

Alternatively, YellaWood® brand Prime may be available kiln dried after treatment (KDAT). KDAT pressure treated wood is placed in a kiln to reduce excess moisture and bring the boards closer to their intended, stable dimensions vs air drying. It helps reduce shrinking, cupping or warping. Rainwood® treatment cannot be applied to KDAT decking.

To retain the benefits of KDAT lumber, we recommend you stain or seal it upon installation (no waiting period necessary). Once exposed to moisture, the decking will need to fully dry again (sprinkle test) before product can be applied. Availability may vary by dealer.

#2 Prime pressure treated lumber is available in additional structural sizes.

Prime 2×6 pine decking boards are part of a deck system that includes joists, beams and posts sized and spaced according to code. When installed correctly, they provide a strong, stable walking surface for everyday backyard use.

For span tables, loading details and structural questions, refer to local building codes and work with your design professional or inspector, then confirm that the YellaWood® Prime grade you select meets those requirements.

Always follow local code requirements and installation guidance, and be sure to choose the proper use category (consult your end tag) when selecting lumber for specific parts of your deck.

Compare YellaWood^® Brand Prime

Use the comparison tool to see how YellaWood^® brand Prime stacks up against other YellaWood^® brand pressure treated decking options in grade, thickness, treatment and profiles, so you can match the right product to your deck design and budget.

Products

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Product	This Product YellaWood^® Brand Prime Find a Dealer for YellaWood® Brand Prime	YellaWood^® Brand Signature View Product for YellaWood® Brand Signature	YellaWood^® Brand Premium View Product for YellaWood® Brand Premium
Thickness	2″	5/4″ 2″	5/4″
Width	6″ (2×6)	6″ (5/4 x 6) 6″ (2×6)	6″
Lengths	8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’ 20’	8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’ 8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’, 20′	8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’
Grades	#2 Prime, #1 Prime	#2, Standard, #1	Premium
Profiles	Radius Milled Edges, Square Edge	Radius Milled Edges (Standard), Square Edge (#2, #1)	Radius Milled Edges
Treatments & Finishing	RainWood^® or KDAT available	RainWood^® or KDAT available	RainWood^® or KDAT available

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Prime Deck Inspiration

Browse completed pine decking projects that use YellaWood® brand pressure treated lumber to get ideas for layouts, stairs and simple features you can bring to your own project.