Elegant Entry Divider - Wood Tools

E,YIAIERIAUi
Preservolive
ABOVE
GROUND
Preservolive
Rebnfion
level
The Pressure-Treoted
TRANSITION
One full year efter the voluntary ban on Chromated
CopperArsenate (CCA) went into effect, it's safe to say
that the surplus of CCA-treated lumber has been
exhausted, and alternative materials now fill the racks at
your local lumberyard. That makes it more important
than ever that you understand the new pressure-treated
lumber and how to use it to your greatest benefit.
Most of the new "envilonmentally friendly" pressuretreating
chemicals are copper based,just like CCA.The
difference is that these new chemicals do not contain
A Production of CCAtreoted
lumber stopped o CCA such fierce criticism.
inorganic arsenic, which is the ingredient that brought
yeor ogo. By now, everything
you will find on Quatenary (ACQ-C, ACQ-D, or ACQ-D Carbonate)
Currently, products treated with Alkaline Copper
lumber rocks is treoted and CopperAzole (CBA-A or CA-B) comprise most
wifh new chemicols. of the CCA replacement market.
Both of these ffeaunents work like CCA in that they
eliminate wood fibers as a food source for insects and
fungus, which in turn contributes to wood decay.And
all indications are that these ffeatments are as effective
as CCA in preventing decay for many decades.
Americon Wood-
Preservers'
Associofion
Stundords Codes
Crone qrc the doys of simply looding your cort with pressure-treobd
lumber ond knowing it will rcsist decoy wherwer you use it.
These doys the treotment lwels wry so you'll need to consulthe
end tog of eoch boord to ensure thot it mqkhes your inbnded usoge.
lhe illutraimobove is one exomple of on end tog. Ifte design of these
bgs con vory widely, but fte criticol informofion remoins the some.
T}e most imporbnt thing to look for is the opplicotion. Eoch boord
will be roted for "Ground Conhct " (for boords thotwill buch the soil
or be buriedl,
'?bove Groundo (br decking not in direct conbct with
soil), "Foundofion," somelimes obbreviohd os "FDN,, or ,,pWF,, for
use in wood foundotions), or "Solt Wolero lfor direct contoct with
soh wobr, such qs in piers or docksl.
KEY DIFFERENCES
Despite the similarities between new pressure ffeaffnenb
and the old CCA, there are a few important differences
to take note of.
Cost -The new stuffis going to cost you
about 15 to 20 percent more.This is due to the increased
copper content.The new chemicals, lacking the inorganic
arsenic of CCA, rely almost entirely on copper as
the fungicide and pesticide. Copper is expensive, so the
cost of the lumber has to reflect that.
Varyrng Grades - The second difference is that
not all pressure-treated lumber is created equal these
days. In the past, the relatively low cost of the CCA
chemical made it possible for manufacturers to pump
every board full of the sruff.
Now, because of the higher cost of new chemicals,
manufacturers are a bit more modest with is application.
The key is to check the end tags ofthe boards to ensure
they are rated for your intended use (Sidebar at leJt).
Corrosion Danger - The most important difference,
though, is that new chemicals are much more corrosive
than CCA. So the hardware that worked fine in
CCA wont stand up to the new chemicals.That means
hardware selection is essential to the longevity of your
outdoor projecs.To he$ sort that out, we've put together
a guide for selecting hardware to be used with pressure-treated
lumber that begins on page 86.
84
woRKBENcH D FEBRUARy 2005