subject: Understanding The Basics Of Pressure-treated Lumber Straight From Your Local Deck Designer [print this page] Its pretty much a no-brainer to define what a pressure-treated lumber is; its wood that was treated with chemicals and put in a pressure chamber. The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) reported millions of wood decks in the U.S. use pressure-treated lumber due to its durability against natural threats. Both the deck designer and builder agree that this type of wood is the way to go.
Wood, basically, is an excellent product for building and remodeling, particularly if you wish a house to have a natural look. The only concern is that it's prone (and enticing) to virtually every known pest and bacterium on the planet. When the wood sustains damages because of termites and the like feeding on it, the whole structure would fall apart. This is why a deck designer usually recommends building decks with pressure-treated wood.
In simple terms, pressure treatment means making the wood less yummy for termites and the like. Makers treat wood with chemical preservatives like alkaline copper quat (ACQ) to shield the wood from insect and bacterial attacks. The preservatives also help prolong the service life of the deck, a big must for outdoor decks.
In the past, chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was used as the prime chemical for this process. However, in 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limited the use of CCA due to the presence of the harmful arsenic, which could taint natural resources. In addition, the preservative will need to be certified by the EPA for usage in domestic and commercial settings.
By exposing the treated wood to a particular amount of pressure, the chemicals can preserve the wood deep down for optimal defense. In the initial stage, the treated wood is exposed to pressure of 35 to 40 psi. For the next three hours of the procedure, the pressure is raised to 140 to 150 psi for the chemical to permeate into the wood. In the final step, the excess preservative is removed, and the pressure is lowered.
You could find out more about the basics of pressure-treated wood by reading the report courtesy of the Oklahoma State University on OKState.edu. You can also check out NADRA.org, the official website of NADRA for additional information. Another great resource is your local deck builder.
