Wood exposed outdoors to repeated wetting and drying develops surface checks. Excessive checking of wooden deck boards has been a major source of dissatisfaction to consumers. In this study, Southern pine (Pinus sp.) deck boards were machined to flat (control) and ribbed surface profiles. The specimens were treated with aqueous formulations of 4,5-dichloro-2-N-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (EL2) and amine copper azole (CA-C) using a vacuum/pressure method. Boards were exposed to accelerated weathering for 576 h (24 days). The number, length and width of checks that developed in boards and average amount of cupping, twist and bowing in each test board were quantified after weathering. The results of statistical analysis showed all of the preservative-treated ribbed decking samples had a lower average number of checks compared to end matched flat samples. Checks were also shorter and narrower in the profiled deck boards than in the unprofiled specimens. Furthermore, the lowest amount of checking, cupping, twist and bowing was observed for specimens profiled and treated with the EL2.

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