- Basement Masonry Walls. Pressure-treated wood is required whenever you attach framing lumber or furring strips directly to concrete or other exterior masonry walls below grade .
- Wood on Concrete or Other Masonry. Concrete and other masonry, unless treated or otherwise coated, is highly porous. Water can pass through porous materials vertically via capillary action.
- Direct Contact With Earth. Earth, no matter how dry it may appear to be, is rarely 100-percent dry. ...
- Retaining Walls. If you build an exterior retaining wall from wood, that wood must be pressure-treated. By their very nature, retaining walls are constantly in contact with earth.
- House Siding. Wood house siding less than 6 inches above ground-level must be pressure-treated. ...
- Subflooring and Joists
When do you need pressure treated wood for framing?
Pressure-treated wood is required whenever you attach framing lumber or furring strips directly to concrete or other exterior masonry walls below grade. Note that this requirement is only for exterior walls, as these may wick moisture onto the lumber.
Is all lumber pressure treated?
All lumber, from the common 2x4 to specialty marine plywood, is either pressure treated or not. Pressure treated wood does last longer without rotting and resists insect damage, but it's not right for every purpose either.
Do you need pressure treated wood for basement walls?
Basement Masonry Walls Ken Dyck/Flickr / Creative Commons 2.0. Pressure treated wood is required whenever you attach framing lumber (as shown here) or furring strips to concrete or other exterior masonry walls below grade. Take note that this is only for exterior walls, as these may wick moisture onto the lumber.
Is pressure-treated wood right for your project?
While pressure-treated wood is twice or even three times more expensive than conventional kiln-dried lumber, your gain is the peace of mind in knowing that your project will not be affected by moisture or pests such as termites or carpenter ants. Building code requires pressure-treated wood in numerous applications.
What should pressure treated wood be used for?
Treated wood is used for decks, mailbox and light posts, swing sets and playscapes, picnic tables, landscape ties, underwater dock pilings, oceanside boardwalks, telephone utility poles and, believe it or not, residential building foundations in some parts of the country!
When should treated wood be used?
In general, pressure-treated lumber is recommended in situations where there is direct contact between the wood and anything that could supply moisture: Retaining walls, which function to support landscaping projects and hold back soil. Any posts or beams that come in contact with the ground or are buried underground.
What is a drawback of pressure treated wood?
Pressure treated wood is easy to deform, easy to crack. The wood has to become saturated with the chemical solution and the wood will take several months to completely dry and cure. There will be some shrinkage and warping of the lumber as it dries.
How long before you can use pressure treated wood?
Wait 72 hours for lumber that has undergone pressure treatment to dry completely. We expect that the wood from the lumber yard has been kiln-dried. Check the board for tags and ask the hardware store staff. If not, it usually takes a few weeks to six months before you can paint or cut the wood.
Should I use treated or untreated wood?
It's better to use treated lumber and know your deck will be secure in a few years than try to use untreated wood for the supports and watch them rot away rapidly. If you're using pressure treated lumber and are concerned about its risks, applying an oil-based sealant is the best protective measure.
Will untreated wood last outside?
Even though natural weather-resistant wood is the best choice for outdoor exposure, at some point it becomes vulnerable to decay. The only way to properly use untreated wood of any type outside is with the addition of water-repellent preservatives, sealer or paint that contain UV protection.
What is not a benefit of pressure treated wood?
Chemical risks. Because this type of decking is treated with chemicals for protection, it can be hazardous when not handled correctly. If the wood is burned, trimmed, or cut, it can release harmful toxins into the air. Pressure-treated wood should not be used for gardens or come in frequent contact with food and water.
Why not use pressure treated wood indoors?
Never use recycled pressure treated lumber indoors. There's a good chance it was treated with CCA, which means it contains arsenic. If you're going to leave the pressure treated wood exposed, perhaps as a post or an exposed rafter, plan on painting or finishing it.
Why is pressure treated wood cheaper than framing lumber?
An obvious advantage of untreated lumber is its price; it's much cheaper than treated lumber. Since CCA-treated lumber was taken off the market, new treatment techniques use high levels of copper, which is more expensive. As a result, the cost of treated wood has risen considerably [source: Morrison].
Is it normal for pressure treated wood to crack?
2:384:07Treated Lumber Cracking - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the cracks get bigger and bigger it's really that simple that's why you're treated lumber cracksMoreAnd the cracks get bigger and bigger it's really that simple that's why you're treated lumber cracks. If you don't want your treated lumber to crack. You need to keep it sealed.
Does outdoor wood need to be pressure treated?
It is necessary but not compulsory to use pressure-treated wood for all outdoor projects. The treatment is only necessary for wood types that are not naturally resilient against insects and water damage.
Do termites eat pressure treated wood?
Termites Don't Eat Pressure-Treated Wood While it is true that pressure-treated wood is resistant to termite damage, it is far from termite proof. In fact, the word "resistant" is used when pressure-treated wood is promoted to consumers. This is because there are many factors that can compromise this protection.
Does outdoor wood need to be pressure treated?
It is necessary but not compulsory to use pressure-treated wood for all outdoor projects. The treatment is only necessary for wood types that are not naturally resilient against insects and water damage.
Can you build a deck with untreated wood?
Yes, you can use untreated wood to build a deck, but not without preparing it first. You can't, of course, pressure treat it yourself, but you will need to seal; the wood and stain/paint it to ensure the wood is ready to take on the harsh external weather.
Why not use pressure treated wood indoors?
Never use recycled pressure treated lumber indoors. There's a good chance it was treated with CCA, which means it contains arsenic. If you're going to leave the pressure treated wood exposed, perhaps as a post or an exposed rafter, plan on painting or finishing it.
What is the difference between pressure treated wood and regular wood?
Pressure-treated lumber is no stronger than regular wood, but it is also not any weaker. The difference between regular and pressure-treated lumber is that the treated wood has greater resistance to the elements and to pests. It, therefore, maintains its integrity not from being stronger, but from being rot resistant.
How to protect yourself from pressure treated lumber?
Protect yourself with gloves and face protection when you’re working with pressure-treated lumber, especially since the sawdust from cutting the wood can be an irritant. “Painting exposed wood surfaces with water-repellent finish, paint, or stain will protect your skin if you lean or kneel on the sides,” recommends Lively.
What is untreated lumber?
Untreated Lumber. Wood has long been a popular building material, and pressure-treated lumber was invented in the last century as an upgrade to the traditional material. This treatment of lumber in the manufacturing process results in a highly durable and long-lasting building solution for all types of construction projects.
Can pressure treated lumber be used in construction?
But building code dictates where you can use treated wood in applications — usually where there is risk of excessive moisture.
Is wood preservative good for insects?
It’s a process that extends the longevity of the wood considerably, adding decades to the life of the material. The chemical preservative used in the process makes lumber resistant to insects and moisture, and it can even protect the wood in severe weather climates.
Can you pressure treat wood?
Generally speaking, any wood used in outdoor projects should be pressure-treated. Wood details in your interior design (like cabinetry or furniture) do not need the same level of treatment. In general, pressure-treated lumber is recommended in situations where there is direct contact between the wood and anything that could supply moisture:
Can you use pressure treated lumber on a deck?
Outdoor decks and landscaping projects (like garden beds) are often built with pressure-treated lumber because of its durability, but you’ll need to apply a sealant to the surface to prevent contact with the treated wood. “Most of the treated wood that’s two inches or less in thickness tends to be treated for above-ground uses, so it may not last very long in a ground-contact application,” says the AWPA.
Why is pressure treated wood wet?
Pressure treated wood is often very wet when you buy it from the store. This is due to the chemicals that have been applied to the lumber to increase it’s durability. Before you can apply any stains or paint to the wood, it’s important that you ensure it has dried sufficiently.
How to avoid checking pressure treated lumber?
The only way to avoid checking is to dry your lumber slowly and evenly. The best way to avoid checking is to store your pressure treated wood in a garage or somewhere away from the outdoor elements and give it several months to dry out on it’s own. When stacking the wood indoors, it’s very important to space the wood and not lay it directly upon other boards to ensure the wood dries evenly. A piece of scrap wood can easily serve as a wood spacer.
Why is it called checking wood?
In the lumber industry, when wood dries too quickly and cracks form, the result is called “checking.” Checking is very common with pressure treated wood due to how wet it is when purchased due to water and chemicals being pressed into the wood.
What chemicals are used to treat wood?
The three most common chemicals that are injected into the wood are: copper azole, alkaline copper quaternary or micronized copper azole. As the water from the treatment dries out, the chemicals stay behind and help preserve the wood and significantly increase the life of the wood.
What is the phone number to call for pressure treated wood?
If you are concerned about exposure to any of the chemicals, please call the National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
How to get water out of pressure treated wood?
Get a spray bottle and spray a small amount of water onto a piece of pressure treat wood. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can also just get some water on your finger tips and flick it onto the board. If the wood soaks the water up – it’s dry enough to stain or paint.
Why is wood susceptible to moisture?
Wood, no matter the type, is most susceptible to damage when the ends are expose to moisture. The ends are where wood absorbs the most amount of water and liquids. This is easy to see when staining a piece of wood. As you apply stain to the ends, it gets soaked into the wood much quicker than on the sides.
When is pressure treated wood required?
Pressure-treated wood is required whenever you attach framing lumber or furring strips directly to concrete or other exterior masonry walls below grade . Note that this requirement is only for exterior walls, as these may wick moisture onto the lumber.
What is pressure treated wood?
At the home center, pressure-treated wood can usually be identified by its numerous incision marks. It is easy to imagine that the copper azole, type C, preservative has been injected into the wood at those points. Actually, the incisions help open the wood and allow the preservative to be forced into the wood cells under high pressure in massive metal tubes nearly half the length of a football field. While pressure-treated wood is twice or even three times more expensive than conventional kiln-dried lumber, your gain is the peace of mind in knowing that your project will not be affected by moisture or pests such as termites or carpenter ants.
How to avoid rot in wood?
One easy way to avoid rot is to avoid wood altogether: build with non -organic materials such as metal, CMU blocks, and masonry retaining wall blocks. But if you want wood, then choose pressure-treated wood, preservative-treated wood, or naturally durable wood. At the home center, pressure-treated wood can usually be identified by its numerous ...
How far from the ground should a wood girder be?
Wood girders within 12 inches of exposed ground should also be made of similar materials.
What wood is durable?
It also allows for what is termed "naturally durable" wood. The American Wood Council says that cedar, black locust, and redwood are a few of these types of woods that are naturally durable. All references to "earth" mean the actual dirt, not ground-level or grade. Read More.
Is masonry wall needed in basement finishing?
As with the requirement about basement masonry walls, this is meaningful in basement finishing applications, but this time with regards to structural support.
Is pressure treated lumber dry?
clagge/Getty Images. Earth, no matter how dry it may appear to be, is rarely 100-percent dry. Even the driest earth will eventually accumulate moisture, and this moisture will be transferred to your wood. This is why pressure-treated lumber is required whenever the lumber is embedded in, or in direct contact with, earth.
