We get this question a lot. The simple answer is pressure-treated lumber can be used in any interior application except cutting boards and countertops. The reason lumber is treated is to protect it from exterior elements that might cause rot, decay or termite infestation.
Cedar is a lightweight wood, making it the perfect choice if you plan to move or rearrange your outdoor furniture often. Cedar is also a good choice if you would like your bench to match your house or other furnishings, since it paints and stains well.
Q: Is "regular" pressure treated wood (CCA, ACQ, MCQ, etc) fire retardant or fire resistant? A: No. Standard pressure treated wood is generally intended for use in exterior applications or even in water.
Compared to other materials that may be used in place of pressure treated wood, like stone, concrete, aluminum or steel, pressure treated wood is typically less expensive to purchase and install due to its ease of installation and use.
Use pressure treated wood in any situation where there's direct contact between the wood and anything that could supply moisture. This means posts in contact or buried underground obviously, but it also includes any lumber touching concrete or masonry since it's porous and wicks water like a sponge.
The major health concern is that daily, long-term contact with arsenic leached from CCA-treated wood might lead to an increased risk of lung, bladder, skin, and other cancers or other health effects.
Is treated wood as strong as regular wood? The difference between the two is that pressure treated lumber will resist the elements better than untreated due to chemical preservatives added, and so will maintain its integrity in conditions that would cause normal wood to rot.
However, most pressure-treated wood should have periodic sealing against moisture, preferably every year or so. Although the wood is resistant to rot and insect attacks because of the pressure treatment, it can warp, split and develop mildew if not protected from the effects of water.
As a rule of thumb, it takes up to 72 hours for pressure-treated wood to dry enough for you to start painting or staining it. How To Check If Pressure Treated Wood Is Dry: Spritz a bit of water onto the wood. If the wood soaks up the water, that means that it is all dried out and good to go.
The new ACQ treated lumber contains a very high level of copper to replace the arsenic. While this reduces the desired risk of poisoning, it does present a different, but very dangerous problem: increased levels of corrosion. Simply put, ACQ-treated lumber is extremely corrosive to metal fasteners such as.
All PT lumber comes wet. They put it under pressure and force chemicals into it. Then they palletize it tightly so it won't warp in transit and ship it.
You can use pressure-treated wood for framing. However, pressure-treated lumber costs much more and does include potentially toxic chemicals. Thus, pressure-treated wood is only recommended for outdoor applications and where framing touches the foundation.
For many years, the only real choice of pressure-treated lumber was wood treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). As the name would seem to indicate, it did contain arsenic, which leached into the soil and could contaminate the plants in your garden.
Chromated Copper Arsenate and Arsenic PoisoningIn addition, people who work with treated wood, such as construction workers and carpenters, can be exposed to high levels of CCA. Exposure to chromated copper arsenate can lead to arsenic poisoning and, in cases of extremely high exposure, death.
