Pressure treated wood grades

It seems most people think that “ pressure - treated ” is “ pressure - treated. The reality is that not only are there several different “ grades ,” of pressure treated materials, there are different types of chemicals that can be used to treat the wood as well. So the general rule of thumb for lumber grades is this: the lower the number, the more strength and better appearance. To start, pressure - treated wood is softwood lumber. Most builders and remodelers use pressure treated lumber to build exterior decks, and the AWPA standard effectively matches retention to where in the structure the wood is used.

Currently, lumber rated for ground contact is typically used for posts and grade beams, while lumber rated for above-ground use is used in the rest of the structure. If this is the case, you may want to sort through the lumber piece by piece to find clear, straight boards. This lumber is pressure treated with micronized. Application of the product requires pressure treatment by an approved treating process and preservative for marine usage.

Supplement to the National Design Specification. There are a few exceptions to this rule, though you should check with your local building inspector to be sure. First is the use of pressure - treated wood in place of Douglas fir for sill plates in new construction.

Sill plates are the lowest framing boards in a wood home. The treatment process forces a waterborne preservative deep into the cellular structure of the wood providing long-term protection against rot, fungal decay and termite attack. Hands down, when comparing color retention, Dura Color outlasts cedar and redwood. It meets code and there is no noticable difference for deck applications.

It is long-lasting, has an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, and it is easily workable with standard tools and skills. Although deeper penetration is highly desirable, the impermeable nature of dead wood cells makes it extremely difficult to achieve anything more. This means less strain on our forest resources, and less expense for you, the consumer, in rebuilding and repair. Wood is still the king of decking materials, due to its economy and strength. Treated Lumber Saves You Money An estimated 6. Natural- wood decking products can be roughly divided into three categories: pressure - treated lumber , redwood and cedar, and tropical hardwoods.

Fire-retardant dimensional lumber is a noncombustible building material intended for a range of applications, including weatherproofing purposes. Where I live you can buy different grades of pressure treated wood. For direct contact or buried in groun they recommend what is called PWF grade (Preserved Wood Foundation). This has the best rating for ground contact and has the longest life expectancy.

Take note that this is only for exterior walls, as these may wick moisture onto the lumber. In recent years preservative treated wood received negative publicity mainly focused on the use of arsenic in CCA. The increasing pressure to eliminate the use of CCA resulted in the treated wood products industry voluntarily transitioning from CCA to alternative preservative systems.

With the pressure treated wood now being mostly copper (instead of arsenic) those nails are a must. The pressure treated wood eats normal nails and hurricane clips. In most home centers, pressure - treated lumber is located in its own aisle, and has a distinctive green cast to its color. Select decking boards with the preservative concentration suitable for their use.

Lumber Grades and Numbers Get the basic facts about lumber numbers and grades. This is regular lumber that has been injected or soaked in chemicals. Most treated lumber does not come in different grades , the exception being plywoo which will come in both ACX and CDX grades. Virtually all treated lumber is considered for construction only – those grades does not take appearance into consideration.

For mobile users: touch and drag to move table left, right, up or down. Two types of treated wood are incised and non-incised. We sell a full line of Southern Yellow Pine treated lumber ready to ship in bundles or as pieces to your project from locations across the Gulf Coast Region including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Wolmanized Wood is pressure treated wood with a copper-based preservative and an effective fungicide. Marine plywood is not pressure - treated to resist decay, like pressure - treated lumber and plywood. How to Read a Lumber Stamp.

The pros and cons of pressure - treated decking. If economy and longevity are your bag, go with pressure - treated wood. It’s stainable, hard enough to resist abuse, and many brands carry a lifetime (though limited) warranty. But beware, not all treated woods are created equal. The standard treated decking at my local lumberyard costs less than.

The minimum retention for level for CA-C treated wood is 0. Find quality plywood online or in store. Most pressure treated wood is treated with a chemical to preserve the wood and protect it from rot and insects. The most common chemicals used to treat pressure treated wood include: Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ), Copper Azole (CA), an the most recent, Micronized Copper Quaternary (MCQ).

CCA products are the materials of choice for post frame buildings and permanent wood foundations. It is as light or lighter in color than some of the Western pines but stronger. Products are available in structural, appearance and remanufacturing grades.

It is easily pressure treated with preservatives, making it useful for decks and other outdoor amenities. Over the years, we have expanded our pressure treated lumber product offerings to meet just about every need or application. We partner with the best producers of Southern Yellow Pine to supply all professional lumber dealers with products that are superior in quality and meet expectations relative to grade.