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 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
