For a long time, CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) has been used as a
reliable wood preservative. CCA-treated wood protects against all
major forms of destructive attack and is effective for many years.
More recently, preservative manufacturers made a transition to a
newer preservative, ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary.)
Pressure-Treated
Lumber
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Information for Pressure-Treated Lumber
lumber primarily used for outdoor decks and landscape.
Constant monitoring and testing makes the lumber safer today than ever. Lumber's greatest enemy is biological attack, which would be destruction by termites, fungi, marine borers and bacteria. After more than half a century of scientific tests and practical experience with various treating chemicals, there are a variety of weapons that have been formulated to protect wood against insects, rot and decay. This is why it is a good idea to use pressure-treated lumber.
For a long time, CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) has been used as a reliable wood preservative. CCA-treated wood protects against all major forms of destructive attack and is effective for many years. More recently, preservative manufacturers made a transition to a newer preservative, ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary.) ACQ is also effective for decades, reducing demands on forest resources. The next generation of preserved wood is ProWood Micro, a revolutionary product being offered throughout the United States by Universal Forest Products.
ProWood Micro is a waterborne system that is copper based. The copper and quaternary compounds together provide protection from a broad spectrum of fungi and termites, preventing rot and decay.
The single most important precaution is DO NOT BURN TREATED WOOD. Burning treated wood releases the chemical bond with wood cells, so dispose of scraps and sawdust with your landfill trash. Wear gloves when handling treated lumber. And always wear safety goggles and a dust mask when sawing or cutting treated lumber just as you would with untreated lumber.
Treated wood is very safe when used as directed. The preservative injected into lumber reacts with the wood substance to form an insoluble complex. It won't evaporate or vaporize. Treated wood is clean, odorless, non-staining, safe to work with and handle. Its locked-in protection is nonirritating to children, adults, animals and plants. The minute amounts of preservative released during a treated wood structure's serviceable lifetime have been carefully studied. The conclusion is clear: it is safe for the environment and safe for people and pets. Treated wood may be used indoors for any application except cutting boards and countertops.
Treated wood can be used in gardening. Treated timbers used to construct raised vegetable and flowerbeds are increasingly popular and practical. Recent scientific tests prove there is no significant uptake of preservatives into plants. And treated wood used for tomato stakes, flowerbed edging, planters, retaining walls, trellises, and compost bins have the added advantage of lifetime durability.
If you cut the end off of your pressure-treated wood, and it looks like it isn't treated in the middle, it's not just a bad piece of treated wood. Most commonly this is heartwood, which is naturally decay resistant. This is not an indication that the wood was not properly treated, and you do not need to be concerned. With the exception of some Western species, these end cuts do not require any special treatment. Brush-on Preservatives for Field Cuts. According to American Wood-Preservers' Standard M4-06, lumber and timber which are used in above ground applications and are of sapwood species such as southern, red or ponderosa pine, generally do not require treatment to provide a good service life. This category includes the majority of the treated products Universal Forest Products provides. Other heartwood species, typically found in the Western U.S., should be field treated when cut or drilled. If you are concerned about wood exposed due to cutting or drilling, you can use a brush-applied preservative. Home centers and lumberyards often carry brush-applied preservative systems based on two different active chemicals: either copper naphthenate or IPBC (3-iodo 2-propynyl butyl carbamate). These systems should be applied, in accordance with their labels, to any surface exposed by damage of field fabrication. Users should carefully read and follow the instructions and precautions listed on the preservative system label when using them.
Left unfinished, treated wood ages gracefully, eventually softening to an attractive driftwood gray. On flat surfaces such as decks, however, leaves and other debris may collect and create unsightly stains. Even if your lumber has the locked-in protection of factory-applied water repellent, you'll want to follow an annual maintenance program that includes a semi-transparent stain or a sealant which contains an ultraviolet stabilizer. If you stain your project, a quality penetrating latex or oil base stain is recommended. Additional information about pressure-treated wood is available at www.ufpi.com.
