Pressure Treated Lumber

SYNOPSIS: Wood products used in contact with the ground or in high-moisture locations are subject to attack by termites and microorganisms that promote decay. Under these conditions, wood will be destroyed within 4 to 7 years, in most cases. Pressure treatment prolongs the life of wood products, assuring structural soundness and a long service life.

APPLICATION TO WOOD CONSTRUCTION: Most building codes require the use of pressure-treated wood or naturally resistant wood species where building components come into contact with concrete, masonry or exposed soil. This includes floor joists and crawlspace support members within 12 to 18 inches of exposed soil. CCA-treated wood is also ideal when optimum service is desired in the framing and subfloors of bath and kitchen areas, in addition to soffit and fascia, where the possibility of water leakage and subsequent costly damage is present.

Data from ongoing USDA Forest Service field tests indicate that pressure-treated wood can be expected to last for decades.

RAW MATERIALS: Wood, Wood Preservatives

MANUFACTURING METHODS: Pressure treatment is a process involving a series of pressure and vacuum cycles within an enclosed cylinder. During the process, wood preservatives are forced into the cellular structure of the wood, forming a chemical barrier against termites and decay.

COST DATA: Pressure Treated Lumber is about 50% more expensive than non-treated lumber. A typical stud grade 2ˇä 6 is approximately $0.40/board-foot, and a treated board of comparable size costs $0.60/board-foot.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS: Pressure treatment significantly reduces the amount of wood that would be required to replace untreated wood structures damaged by decay or termites, thereby extending our important forest resource. Nearly 6.5 billion board feet of wood, or the equivalent of building 425,000 new homes, are conserved each year by using pressure-treated wood products.

ALTERNATIVES IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: Pressure Treated Lumber

DURABILITY AND REQUIRED MAINTAINENCE: Data from ongoing USDA Forest Service field tests indicates that pressure-treated wood can be expected to last for decades.