Corrosion on Capping

[Clayton]

Does anyone know what this is? We just moved into this house a few months ago and have been finding some strange things. Can I sand it

off and paint it? Please see pics below.

Thanks for the advice.

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[ghentjr]

Your second picture is fuzzy but it could be mud from termites. Scrape off the mud and look for little white ant looking bugs.

[kurt]

I can see how one might think it's termites.....but, I think it looks like a rusted column; the paint is blistering with rust. Or, it's just blistered.

What are the materials?

It looks like a steel column, w/vinyl hand and guardrails....is that right?

[Clayton]

It is aluminum capping over pressure treated 6x6 lumber.

[Tom Raymond]

That's what I thought it was. It's a galvanic reaction between the copper in the pressure treated wood and the aluminum coil. It won't stop until all the aluminum is gone.

The fix is to replace the aluminum with vinyl or polyurethane post wraps, or place a barrier coating (tar paper works well) between the metals. This of course means that all the rails need to come down.

[ghentjr]

My eyes are old!