best pressure treated wood for ground contact

When dipped, treated wood is not usually recommended for contact with the ground. This can cause significant twisting, cupping, bowing and warping especially in lower-grade boards where knots and uneven grains are already present. Hem-Fir – It is weaker and more prone to warping and splitting than Douglas fir, but more receptive to preservation. Preserve CA is widely used across the US and Canada. Common grades, from worst to best, are utility and structural select. For common deck applications, according to Viance, Ecolife is a “more cost-effective option when compared to products treated for ground contact use, and is still the best option for outdoor projects when used appropriately.” Cox Wood Treaters urged dealers: “don’t be forced to switch to all ground contact products, when it’s not necessary." Wood can be impregnated with a variety of preservative chemicals to prevent rot and insect infestation in exterior applications like decks. It has a high consistency and the appearance is very good. Roller or brush. Privacy Statement. A preservative solution is then pumped into … Severe Weather Ground Contact pressure treated exterior wood protected with Copper Azole (CA-C) provides lasting support and protection for all-purpose applications. Preserve ACQ - Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ) is a water-based wood preservative formulation made of soluble copper and a quaternary compound. For direct contact or buried in ground, they recommend what is called "PWF" grade (Preserved Wood Foundation). Knots may not be larger than 3 ½". Different applications impose different hazards on wood, and require different amounts of preservative for protection. While most CCA lumber was rated for ground contact, manufacturers are holding down costs with ACQ and copper azole by limiting treatment levels to the expected application of the lumber. The CA preservative formulation is made of 96.1 % soluble copper (100% recycled) and organic triazole co-biocides; tebuconazole and propiconazole, which help control copper-tolerant fungi. It encompasses a group of western species. Check it to find the type of preservative used. The Home Depot has begun replacing its stock of above-ground-rated pressure treated lumber with material rated for ground-contact use. Wolmanized® pressure-treated wood is treated to various retention levels that are intended to protect the wood for particular applications. If this is the case, you may want to sort through the lumber piece by piece to find clear, straight boards. Lumber with an American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) label on the end of the board will have information regarding ground contact information. Select - The highest grade available, contains very few detects. https://www.menards.com/.../pressure-treated-wood-buying-guide/c-19828.htm Because treated wood is often still wet when it is delivered to the site, it will shrink slightly in width and thickness as it dries out. Number 2 - Grain slope must meet minimum 1/8 grain slope. This is stated on the tag stapled to the lumber's endgrain. This has the best rating for ground contact and has the longest life expectancy. Be sure to obtain wood treated for the application you have in mind. SYP logs yield a high proportion of sapwood, which works well to absorb preservative. Douglas Fir – It is very strong and is less prone to warping and spitting than SYP. With little maintenance it can last for years and years. Predominant material found in western U.S. and Canada. Here are 10 woods that stand up best to rot. Always use building-code approved, corrosion-resistant fasteners and connectors that are suitable for use in pressure-treated wood. Grade is a description of the quality of a given species. Today, a giant industry has grown uparound his quest to invent a wood that can last forever.Pressure treating is a Pump sprayer. Wooden posts in contact or buried underground can be affected by moisture. The three common types of pressure treatment are ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary), CA (copper azole), and the newest type is MCQ (micronized copper quaternary). 5/4x6s and 2x6s for decking. Ground contact pressure treated wood. Must be used when lumber is less than 6 inches from the ground or has poor ventilation. However, when fully pressure treated, boards and timbers may be tagged as standard for ground contact use. Container. We’ll teach you the types of pressure treated wood. For pressure treated decks, we recommend Spa N Deck from Flood or Wood RX. Warranty: The good news is that most lumber … For outdoor projects, it’s important to understand the difference between Ground Contact treated wood and lumber designed for Above Ground use. In most cases, lumber will be stamped or tagged with a … To start, pressure-treated wood is softwood lumber, typically southern yellow pine, that's been chemically treated to resist rot, decay and termites. There are a handful of species commonly used for structural framing, and while relatively similar, their properties affect how far they can span as joists. Premium - Highest grade for ¾ radius edge decking. In North America, retention is expressed in pounds per cubic foot (pcf). Preserve® is a family of fully-dissolved copper-based wood preservative solutions for exterior wood products. Woody learns when it's important to use ground contact treated lumber. Treated wood can last more than 40 years. Retention levels indicate the amount of preservative retained in the wood in a specific assay zone. Preserve ACQ and Preserve CA are NAHB Home Innovation Research Labs Green Certified Products for Resource Efficiency and are eligible to contribute points toward a buildings certification under the National Green Building Standard™ (NGBS). Preserve CA - Copper Azole Type C (CA-C) is found readily across the US and Copper Azole Type B (CA-B) in Canada. I want to build a box for above my septic tank and and access hole for purposes of Maintenance (every 10 years) … The most common pressure-treating chemical in use today is chromated copper arsenate (CCA). 2x8s, 2x10s and 2x12s for joists, stair stringers and beams. Ground contact treatments are not suitable for direct contact with aluminum or un-coated metal products . For Permanent Wood Foundations and corrosive environments, such as Coastal areas with saltwater spray, use code approved stainless steel fasteners and connectors. To find retailers near you, click Where to Buy. Pressure treated lumber is chemically treated to inhibit fungal growth and insect activity. Both are also certified by Home Innovation Research Labs for points toward NGBS Green Certification to the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard. Salt-water Splash. One hole is permitted every 2 ft. Wane corners. Water sealer. Species & Sizes Of Pressure-Treated Wood. Goggles. Retention levels or treating quality procedures are marked on Wolmanized® wood … The treatment process forces a waterborne preservative deep into the cellular structure of the wood providing long-term protection against … When selecting fasteners and connectors, you should consider the potential for corrosion in the particular building application. If your posts will be located near water or in an area where standing water is common we may recommend that you treat your posts to.60pcf for increased longevity. See Preserve ACQ and Preserve CA Lifetime Limited Warranties for terms and conditions. Number 1- Will contain no splits larger than the width of the board. Species like southern pine and douglas fir are often used for deck framing. The door is sealed and a vacuum is applied to remove most of the air from both the cylinder and the cells of the wood in the process. The soluble copper makes the wood very resistant to biological attack, and a quaternary ammonium compound (quat) acts as biocide and insecticide, increasing the tolerance of the treated lumber to copper-resistant bacteria and fungi. Number 3 - The lowest-quality grade. Treated wood is generally available as dimensional stock in 2x4s, 2x6s, 4x4s and 2x2s for rail components. Where I live you can buy different "grades" of pressure treated wood. TreatedWood.com© 2021 Viance. Therefore these should be made from pressure-treated wood since this can resist moisture better. Pressure-treated wood is intended for outdoor use only! Preserve CA-C treatment is also available with a built-in water repellent and marketed as Preserve® Plus. It is used for below grade applications like wood basements, footings, etc. Ground Contact: In most cases, PT wood (that you would find in Big Box stores) is now ground contact approved (based on newly revised guidelines), which means that the lumber will have twice the treatment and decks that are low to the ground (6" or below) can use PT wood for the fascia, joists, beams, and decking. Permalink Submitted by Tim Rowe (not verified) on Thu, 09/20/2018 - 16:57. Most treated posts are treated to a penetration of.40pcf, the standard treatment for ground contact applications. Preserve is not suitable for direct contact with uncoated steel or aluminum building products. Others are moderately resistant and may require regular or semi-regular treatment to extend their strength against rot. Knots may not be larger than 2 ¾". Metal products in contact with pressure-treated wood must be corrosion-resistant. Wood intended for ground contact should be rated.40 pcf, or pounds of chemical per cubic foot of wood. The preservative retention for both CCA- and ACQ-treated lumber is .25 for above-ground applications and .40 for ground contact. Can you paint pressure treated lumber? Viance does not sell treated wood. These amounts are called “retention levels,” referring to the amount of preservative retained in the wood after treatment. Use Category Brief Description UC1 Interior Dry UC2 Interior Damp UC3A Exterior Above Ground, Coated with Rapid Water Runoff UC3B Exterior Above Ground, Uncoated or Poor Water Runoff UC4A Ground Contact, General Use UC4B Ground Contact, Heavy Duty UC4C Ground Contact, Extreme Duty UC5A Marine Use, Northern Waters (Salt or Brackish Water) UC5B Marine Use, Central Waters (Salt or Brackish Water) UC5C Marine Use, Southern Waters (Salt or Brackish Water) UCFA Interior Above Ground Fire Protection UCFB Exterior Above Ground Fire Protection, Copyright © 2021 Trex Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Pressure-treated lumber is ideal for outdoor construction as it has a long, useful life span and is much less expensive than alternatives. Several species of wood can be treated, but a regionally available species usually predominates in any particular locale. Over 70 years ago, Dr. Karl Wolman invented the process of infusingpreservative deeply into wood products. Southern Yellow Pine can be treated in a variety of ways to add to its durability against the elements. Like its name suggests, pressure-treated wood is wood that has been treated with chemicals while under pressure. Answers to these questions and more: What is pressure treated lumber? Wood lovers … Here, the PWF lumber is CCA treated… Both Preserve CA and Preserve ACQ are seen as “greener” preservatives and a more sustainable option than previous wood preservatives. The current formulations of preservatives have been shown to keep wood solid for two decades or longer, depending on where the wood will be located and how much preservative has been forced into it. A beat-up, decayed 2x8 covered in knots won’t be as strong as a clean, straight-grained one. 6x6s for support posts and plywood. Learn more about pressure treated lumber. 5/4x6s and 2x6s for decking. Every treated board carries a label. By clicking GO!, you acknowledge that you have read Trex's Privacy Policy. Recommended Fasteners: use hot-dipped galvanized fasteners (meeting ASTM A 153) or stainless steel. In the 1930s, researchers found that sodium dichromate would fix arsenic salts to wood. The 100% acrylic finish formula can be applied in just one day, and the end result enhances the wood’s natural beauty while providing extra durability. There are several tried-and-true methods for treating lumber that have been developed in the construction building … Is treated wood as strong as regular wood? It is strong and stiff. See Preserve CA (US), Preserve CA (Canada), Preserve ACQ (US), Preserve ACQ (Canada) Lifetime Limited Warranties for terms and conditions. You may also purchase kiln-dried after treatment (KDAT), which is much more stable, but also more expensive. Treated wood is generally available as dimensional stock in 2x4s, 2x6s, 4x4s and 2x2s for rail components. The Preserve treatment lends a distinctive green tint to the timber, although an additional color pigment, DesignWood, can be introduced during the treatment process to stain the wood in shades of brown. The intended use is identified on the tag stapled to each piece of lumber. Pressure-treated lumber is rated by the amount of chemical infused in it per cubic foot of wood. Viance develops the preservatives for pressure treated lumber. You can find Spa N … Paint thinner. As lumber moves through a mill, grading inspectors review each piece and separate them onto different paths. Pressure treated lumber products, such as YellaWood ® brand products, are treated in a pressurized cylinder. Please watch our informative videos below to learn more. Knots, decay, grain angle, wane, damage, warp and other physical characteristics of an individual piece of lumber distinguish it into a specific grade. Ground-contact pressure-treated wood: Ground-contact pressure-treated lumber can be used either above ground or in contact with the ground. Wood for above-ground use should be.25 pcf. Red and Ponderosa Pine - Less strong than SYP, found in northern U.S. and Canada. The treatment process involves placing a load of lumber in a huge cylindrical chamber called a retort with a door on one end that can be sealed airtight, and then forcing waterborne chemicals into the wood under pressure. For example, deck boards, 2x6s, and 4x4s at the lumberyard will typically have three different treatment levels Table 4-2 below). Mask . Renowned for its ability to fend off decay, pressure treated timber is ideal for high moisture and/or ground contact installations. Examples include fasteners (nails, screws and bolts), and all connecting hardware (joist hangers, straps, hinges, post anchors and truss plates). The predominant species of treated wood is a regionally available softwood. Most common are: Southern Yellow Pine - Southern pine is the most common deck framing material in the eastern United States. Using ground contact pressure treated lumber above ground is nothing new. First, untreated lumber is placed into a large horizontal treating cylinder. ACQ is used throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia. Recommended Connectors: use G185 hot-dipped galvanized for exterior applications. It must meet a minimum 1/12-grain slope and have all knots sound encased. One hole is permitted every 3 ft. Standard - Mid-range grade for 5/4 decking. The numbers depend on the chemical preservative used in the treatment. The grades provide a tighter presumption of the structural performance of each piece. Has twice the level of chemical retention and protection compared to above-ground treated wood. The reverse side of the label … Suitable for burial or contact with the ground and fresh water immersion applications. Preserve CA and ACQ Similarities and Differences, TREATED WOOD FAQS FROM PRESERVATIVES TO INSTALLATION, Preserve CA Lifetime Limited Warranty - USA, Preserve ACQ Lifetime Limited Warranty - USA, Preserve Treated Wood Approved by Parks Canada, Preserve CA Lifetime Limited Warranty - Canada, Preserve ACQ Lifetime Limited Warranty - Canada, Fresh-water Immersion and Salt-water Splash, Field-tested, proven-to-last, and accepted as an industry standard, Building code compliant - IRC, IBC, and National Building Code of Canada (NBCC), American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) standardized wood preservatives, Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved. When using lumber underground, you should always apply preservative to the lumber to prevent rot and termite damage. In fact, preserved wood comes in several different use categories, and choosing the right boards for your project will … Comments. Find a contractor for your upcoming project. Preserve CA Green Certified Product Certificate, Preserve ACQ Green Certified Product Certificate. Ideal for residential, commercial and certain agricultural projects in these applications: Above Ground Exposed Use; Ground Contact General Use; Fresh-water Immersion and Salt-water Splash; Field-tested, proven-to-last, and accepted as an industry standard; … Shop pressure treated lumber and a variety of building supplies products online at Lowes.com. Railings, balusters and certain deck board installations may be appropriate for above-ground treated lumber. Ideal for residential, commercial and certain agricultural projects in these applications: Preserve ACQ and Preserve CA treated wood are covered by a Lifetime Limited Warranty against damage from fungal decay or termite attack when installed in accordance with applicable building codes. Find pressure treated lumber at Lowe's today. The International Building Code requires that siding and structural lumber used on the last six inches of the structure above ground should be pressure-treated wood. Span tables will also list grades in separate columns to further fine-tune the maximum allowable span. Fresh-water Immersion. Mixing stick. Pressure-Treated Wood Makes the Grade. Pressure-treated wood in contact with the ground needs the most protection, and will rot in just a few years if you use the wrong … Furthermore, each preservative has its individual retention level for these applications. Roofing tar. In 2002 Chemical Specialties, Inc. (CSI); now Viance, received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for the commercial introduction of ACQ. You may want to store lumber by fastening boards together using a method called stickering to allow boards to dry evenly. Wood treated to (UC3B) above-ground standards is ideal for use in light-duty situations where wood will not be in contact with moisture or the ground. No wood is entirely rot-proof, but there is a good number of species that have superior rot resistance and can be used outdoors without chemical treatment. There are a few exceptions to this rule, though you should check with your local building inspector to be sure. Find where you can buy all Viance products. Preserve formulations provide long-term protection from fungal decay and termite attack for a wide variety of residential, commercial and agricultural construction projects including above-ground, ground contact, fresh-water immersion, and salt-water splash applications. Span tables will list species separately for this reason. Terms of use, Cedar Decking: Prices, Different Types, Maintenance & More, Common Wood Defects: Types & Causes of Lumber Issues, Pressure-Treated Wood: Types, Grading Standards & More, Redwood Decking: Cost, Maintenace & Types of Redwood, ACQ Alkaline Copper Quaternary (Type B or C), ACQ Alkaline Copper Quaternary (Type A or D), PTI Propiconazole-Tebuconazole-Imidicloprid, SBX Inorganic Boron (non-Formosan termites). 6x6s for support posts and plywood. That sodium dichromate would fix arsenic salts to wood - the Highest grade available, very... ) label best pressure treated wood for ground contact the tag stapled to each piece and separate them different. Available, contains very few detects and warping especially in lower-grade boards where knots uneven! Preservative chemicals to prevent rot and insect activity s important to understand the difference between ground contact lumber. Red and Ponderosa Pine - southern Pine is the case, you may want to store lumber by fastening together! 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