Wood is the most environmentally friendly building material
available today. Unlike steel, concrete or
plastics, it
takes very little energy to produce. And unlike all other
building materials, wood is a renewable resource.
Responsible Use
In 1994 the lumber industry harvested over 15 billion board feet of Southern
Pine, while the total acreage
of Southern forests continued to increase. Responsible
use of our renewable resources means that future generations will be able to
enjoy both the benefits of a sound environment and the beauty that building
with
wood brings to our homes and communities.
Treated Lumber Saves Trees
Treating wood with preservatives increases its benefits to the environment by
increasing its working life.
Under ordinary circumstances, lumber used for outdoor
jobs can begin to decay in just a few seasons. But properly treated wood lasts
up to twenty times longer, greatly reducing the amount of wood that would be
required to replace untreated structures damaged by decay or termites.
Treated Lumber Saves You Money
An estimated 6.5 billion board feet of lumber, the equivalent of building 425,000
new homes, is conserved
each year by using pressure-treated wood products. This
means less strain on our forest resources, and
less expense for you, the consumer,
in rebuilding and repair.
The CULPEPER WOOD PRESERVERS
Choice
By using pressure-treated Southern Pine from CULPEPER for your home building
projects, you are making an investment in a renewable resource with great natural
beauty and high resistance to decay and destruction
by insects. CULPEPER offers
a complete line of pressure-treated #1 and #2 dimensional lumber and deck accessories,
including our water-resistant wood products. CULPEPER guarantees its treated
wood products against damage by fungal decay and termites for as long as you
own your home.
What
is pressure treatment?
Pressure treatment is
a carefully controlled process of pressure and vacuum cycles
within an enclosed cylinder. The process forces preservatives
deep into the cellular structure of the wood, forming a
chemical bond that resists decay and attack by insects.
This bonding process, known as "fixation," locks the preservative
into the wood, making it highly resistant to leaching or
dissolving.
What preservatives are used?
The most commonly used preservatives for
treating lumber for residential use are ACQ, MCA and Ecolife
.
Over a million decks and countless other outdoor structures
are built each year using Southern Pine lumber that has
been treated with these preservates.
Is treated Southern Pine
safe?
Perfectly safe. You can play barefoot on
it, build garden beds out of it, use it to lie out in the
sun, or eat
a picnic. Treated lumber is a nontoxic product
that only frustrates termites and fungus. Like many chemical
substances that require special handling, these preservatives
have regulations for use established by the
EPA. It can
only be sold to certified wood treatment facilities. The
EPA’s regulations apply only to the chemicals, not
to the finished product. Once these preservatives are locked
into the wood, they are
perfectly safe for everyday use
around your home.
Where can treated lumber
be used?
You can use treated lumber indoors or outdoors,
anywhere durability and resistance to decay are important.
Most building codes require the use of pressure treated
or naturally resistant wood species in components
that will
come into contact with concrete, masonry, or exposed soil.
Its decay resistance makes it ideal for subflooring in kitchens
and bathrooms. It is also highly recommended for outdoor
applications – for gardens
and walkways, playgrounds
and decks.
What are the EPA’s
guidelines for use of treated wood?
As with many building materials, the EPA
has established a Consumer Information Sheet that outlines
its recommendations for the use and handling of treated
lumber. These guidelines should be adhered to in all
home
construction projects.
Why shouldn’t treated wood be used for cutting
boards or countertops?
The Food and Drug Administration discourages
the use of any wood, treated or untreated, for cutting boards
and countertops because these surfaces can become gouged
during food preparation. Bacteria can grow in these gouges,
creating unsanitary conditions in your kitchen. Only hard,
abrasion-resistant materials should
be used for cutting
surfaces.
Why can’t treated
wood be burned?
Fire unlocks the bond between the preservative
and the wood cells, leaving behind metal residues in the
ash. This could result in an environmental or health hazard
if not disposed of properly. It is recommended that sawdust
and scraps of treated material be disposed of through normal
trash collection services or by burial.
Do I need any special equipment to use treated Southern
Pine?
No special equipment is required to work
with treated lumber. However, always make sure to use the
standard safety equipment for any woodworking project –
gloves, air filters (to filter out airborne sawdust when
cutting), and protective eyewear.
What should I look for
in purchasing pressure-treated wood?
First of all, look for a treated quality mark, which can
appear either as an end tag or an ink stamp. This will assure
you that the producer subscribes to rigorous quality control
standards established by the American Wood Preservers’
Association (AWPA) or the International Code Council (ICC).
CULPEPER meets all these standards.
A typical quality mark is illustrated below:
Like all lumber, treated wood is rated according to its usefulness
for certain purposes. Be sure you purchase wood treated for
the proper exposure conditions. Wood that is stamped for ABOVE
GROUND exposure is ideal for applications such as decking
or trim. Choose wood labeled GROUND CONTACT for components
that will come into direct contact with the earth, such as
decks, posts and planters.
What type of nails and fasteners should I use with treated
wood?
When you build with treated
wood, you are building for permanence. Nails and fasteners
must be able to last at least as long as the wood itself.
When selecting a fastener for an outdoor project, make sure
that it is manufactured for use with treated wood. Use only
fasteners that are recommended by building codes and by
the fastener manufacturer.
How should I install decking boards?
Boards should be installed
by butting them tightly against each other. As the lumber
dries, you can expect a ¼" gap between deck boards.
How long should I wait to seal my deck after installation?
In hot dry summer months,
2-3 weeks; in cooler months, 4-6 weeks.
How do I maintain the bright appearance of my deck?
Pressure wash your deck once a year to ensure a clean surface and seal with an
oil based water-repellant product with UV protection. Your deck will stay beautiful,
if this is done.
How
do you know if wood has been properly treated?
More
important facts about wood
