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General FAQ
Why does wood need to be protected with preservatives?
How long will treated wood last? How much weight does treatment add to the weight of wood? Why is treated wood green? Why can't I burn my wood scraps? What should I use to apply to the cut ends of my boards? Can I use treated wood inside? Where can I learn more about the safety and environmental aspects of CCA treated wood?  Why does wood need to be protected with preservatives? Wood is an environmentally sound, economical building material that can be used either indoors or outdoors for a wide variety of structural and decorative applications. Unfortunately, untreated lumber cut from most commercially harvested tree species is subject to attack by insects or to decay caused by fungi and bacteria. The decay or insect hazard is greatest in exposures where the wood is subjected to moisture. Wood in outdoor exposures, either in ground-contact or in above-ground applications, is susceptible to attack. The potential for wood deterioration is greatest in hot and humid climates, which allow insects, fungi and bacteria to thrive. Destruction of untreated wood in aquatic environments can be caused by a variety of marine organisms. Wood should be treated with a preservative system to control the destructive activities of these organisms and ensure long-term structural soundness and serviceability. Back to Top How long will treated wood last? The length of time that a piece of treated wood lasts will depend on how it is being used and where. For best results, it is important that you use a treatment level (retention) appropriate to the end use. Thus, for an above-ground application 0.25 pcf CCA or ACQ is suitable. For ground-contact applications, 0.40 pcf CCA or ACQ is appropriate. Back to Top How much weight does treatment add to the weight of wood? Most of the weight added to treated wood comes from water used to solubilize the preservative components. A freshly treated piece of lumber may contain as much as 4.5 gallons of water per cubic foot or about 38 lbs. per cubic foot. As the wood dries and the water evaporates, only the preservative will remain. Lumber tagged for above-ground use should contain 0.25 pounds preservative per cubic foot and, for ground contact, 0.40 pounds per cubic foot. Back to Top Why is treated wood green? The green color you see on treated wood is caused by chemical reactions that take place between the preservative components and the wood as it dries and reacts to sun's ultraviolet rays. Over time, the green color will fade. SupaTimber CCA treated lumber eventually weathers to gray while Preserve treated lumber changes to a brown color and finally gray over an extended period of time. Back to Top Why can't I burn my wood scraps? When treated wood is burned, the chemical components of the preservative are concentrated and can be released into the ash and in particulates in the smoke. Some of these components can be harmful to the environment. Federal and state regulations mandate that treated wood be burned in an approved commercial or industrial permitted incinerator facility. See the Safe Handling section of this site for more information on handling and disposing of treated wood products. Back to Top What should I use to apply to the cut ends of my boards? For cut ends of treated lumber, we recommend you use a brush-on copper naphthenate formulation available from home centers, lumber dealers and hardware stores. Back to Top Can I use treated wood inside? Pressure-treated wood may be used inside as long as all sawdust and construction debris are cleaned up and properly disposed of. SupaTimber CCA or Preserve pressure-treated wood does not emit vapors or fumes. You do not want to use treated wood for countertops or where it may become a component of food. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration does not recommend using any wood for kitchen countertops or food-cutting boards because knife cuts may allow food particles to become entrapped, creating an unsanitary environment. Back to Top Where can I learn more about the safety and environmental aspects of CCA treated wood? As an EPA requirement, CCA treated wood has a Consumer Information Sheet (PDF 32 KB) that explains more about CCA treated wood. Back to Top |
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