PT Lumber variants - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

wallmaxx · 10-03-2009, 12:09 PM

When I started back in 1989, there was CCA.

I remember they had different ratings like .40 or .60 and the documentation would tell you how you could use lumber. Some was even rated for immersion into water like for use in building bulkheads or docks.

Then the EPA and greenies came along and cried that the world was ending.

ACQ and whatever came along.

Well I have been working in central WA state and the green PT plate is the weirdest looking color I have ever seen.

The typical PT lumber on the west coast is either dark green or dark brown. It is applied to hemlock typically - and not by any pressure methods it seems.

Over the Cascades they have a pale light green looking lumber...just weird.

**framerman** · 10-03-2009, 12:30 PM

The Hem-Fir doesn't absorb the treatment like SYP does. That's what the little serrations are in the wood for, to absorb more

I found it weird also when I lived there. Sunwood for decks came without the serrations

neolitic · 10-03-2009, 12:36 PM

Although CCA and ACQ can still
be special ordered back here, the
newest Wolman "Micronized Copper"
is the bulk of it here.
The treaters love it because it is
less corrosive therefore kinder to
their equipment.
It is lighter color and different saturation
percentages.
Check your end tags.
I have heard that some treaters are
using copper napthenate (Cuprinol #12)
for fir especially.

naptown CR · 10-03-2009, 02:35 PM

This stuff looks frightening to me It looks like the treatment only went in about 1/4" from the surface leaving the centerof the board untreated.

**BuiltByMAC** · 10-03-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naptown CR

It looks like the treatment only went in about 1/4" from the surface leaving the centerof the board untreated.

That's why it's so important to treat all cut ends w/ an end cut preservative. Once you cut into the fir pt (doug. or hemlock), you're exposing untreated wood.

Wallmaxx, every now and again, I'll get some 2x pt that's the light green stuff. Not sure if it's just coming from a specific mill or what - usually the 2x and 4x is brown (treated w/ ACQ), and the 6x is green because it's still treated w/ CCA.

Mac

jkfox624 · 10-03-2009, 03:50 PM

If the treatment is only goin that deep wouldnt nail or screw penetrations from the top create a point for moisture to get into the untreated area though?

carpentershane · 10-03-2009, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuiltByMAC

That's why it's so important to treat all cut ends w/ an end cut preservative. Once you cut into the fir pt (doug. or hemlock), you're exposing untreated wood.

Mac

Terminate is what I use on all end cuts or untreated wood... Stuff smells bad but works great. Also the treated stocked out here on the Peninsula is NatureWood and I am guessing it is from the same mill as Wallmaxx's.

Timuhler · 10-04-2009, 09:47 AM

Mike,

The green stuff might be borate treated. We have been using borate treated wood for plates since ACQ came onto the market. It is much less corrosive, but can't be used for exposed applications or continuous wetting.

From one lumberyard we get a brand that is very light brown and used to be KD, from another yard we get the green stuff. I'll take a picture next time I'm out in the yard.

Borate treated lumber has been used for years, but didn't get that much attention until ACQ came out and we had to pay more for hangers, washers, etc.

This isn't the brand we use but one I found searching for "pressure treated wood WA"

http://westernwoodpreserving.com/advance_guard.htm
This might be the brand we used http://www.ufpi.com/PRODUCT/borate/borprod.htm

This is an interesting product too http://www.belcofp.com/index.php/Bel...ces/FrameGuard