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I am making an urgent request about some timber I have been told has a rating of F7. The exporter in Canada states that the timber has not been treated or kiln dried when leaving Canada as it was green. The only treatment was from the builder putting on the base Area that went below ground level some tar like substance. He then placed the timber directly into the ground and filled each footing hole with quick dry cement. He ran out of cement so each footing hole is still half filled. Since doing this it has rained on and off in Orange, NSW for over three days with the holes periodically filling up. This is adding to my concerns.

As an ex ocean sailor who once owned a wooden yacht, I know how quick wood can rot. With the added problem of rain water the rot problem is heightened. Thus, owning a wooden boat does require high ongoing maintenance , I always had to wash down the hewn decks etc with sea water as it was not so harsh. However, this a separate issue and nothing to do with current pergola problem that involves the wood Oregon.

I am concerned about the long term safety and integrity of Oregon being placed directly into the ground and then encased in cement as I would have preferred the timber being placed on stirrups - off and out of the ground where rain water has less chance of causing rot below. I planned to let the Oregon aged naturally but now believe it could be better to paint the wood beams as a form of protection. What do you advise?

In fact can you advise what I should do?

(1) advise the builder to jackhammer the wood out of each hole and use stirrups fittings?

Or

(2) leave things as they are?

I am there looking for advice from you. Then depending on this advice on what each option can provide that will see the timber perform with regards to safety and longevity.