Deck & Porch Framing Lumber Preservative Treatments

PRESERVATIVE TREATED LUMBER - Deck framing lumber treatment methods
- How to use pressure treated lumber
- Health Concerns for Chromated-Copper Arsenate (CCA) Pressure Treated Lumber
- Advice for Existing Structures Built Using Chromated-copper Arsenate (CCA) Treated Lumber
- Health Precautions for Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ)-Treated Lumber
- Treatment Levels & Durability of Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ)-Treated Lumber
- Borate Treatment for Lumber & Deck Framing
- Increased Corrosion Potential for ACQ and Copper Azole-Treated Lumber
Questions & Answers about choosing & using treated wood or lumber in or at buildings
References

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Preservative treated wood: health & environmental concerns when working with or using treated lumber: this article discusses deck framing lumber treatment methods, the use of pressure treated lumber, Health Concerns for Chromated-Copper Arsenate (CCA) Pressure Treated Lumber, Advice for Existing Structures Built Using Chromated-copper Arsenate (CCA) Treated Lumber, Health Precautions for Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ)-Treated Lumber, and Retention Ratings: Treatment Levels & Durability of Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ)-Treated Lumber.

Guide to Pressure Treated Framing Lumber Methods, Chemicals, Durability, Health Concerns

As described in Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Chapter Four, Best Construction Guide for Building Decks and Porches

Also see Deck Nails, Screws, Hidden Fasteners and see New Preservatives and Corrosion where we describe structural fasteners designed for use in pressure-treated lumber. See Rot-Resistant Deck Lumber & Flooring for a discussion of lumber and flooring alternatives to preservative-treated wood.

This article series discuss best porch & deck construction practices, including choice of framing materials, decking or flooring choices & installation, how to select and use deck and porch structural and flooring fasteners, actual deck & porch framing construction details & connections, deck joist & beam span tables, how to build leak-proof rooftop decks, construction of covered & screened porches, deck & porch railing construction & materials, choices of finishes and stains for decks & porches, and past & current deck lumber preservative treatments with related health & environmental concerns.

Most builders choose pressure-treated lumber for the structural framework because of its low cost and high durability. At this time there are few viable alternatives.

However, composite and synthetic products are beginning to enter the market and are worth considering, especially for environmentally sensitive sites, such as wetlands or other applications where clients object to the use of treated lumber (see Table 4-1 shown just below).

[Click any image or table for a larger, more-detailed version.]

Table 4-1 Deck Framing Materials (C) J Wiley, S Bliss

Pressure-Treated (PT) Lumber

The vast majority of residential decks were framed with lumber treated with chromated-copper arsenate (CCA) until 2004, when CCA was phased out and replaced primarily by alkaline copper quat (ACQ) and copper azole. The treated lumber is typically Southern yellow pine in the eastern United States and hem-fir in the West. The more expensive and stronger Douglas fir is also used in the West, but it is more likely treated with the waterborne treatment ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate (ACZA).

Incising Lumber for Treatment Penetration

Both Douglas fir and hem-fir are typically “incised” with surface cuts for better penetration of the treatment chemical. Even with incising, however, full chemical penetration is rarely achieved with these species, so the center of that wood remains vulnerable to rot, particularly in 4x and larger material.

With these species, effective field treatment of holes and cuts with a liquid preservative is essential.

Health Concerns for Chromated-Copper Arsenate (CCA) Pressure Treated Lumber

Despite CCA’s track record as an effective, economical wood preservative, its safety has long been questioned by health and environmental advocates. Their primary focus has been CCA’s heavy concentration of arsenic, a known carcinogen.

Although most experts agree that leaching of arsenic from CCA lumber is minimal and poses negligible health risks to end users, the industry acknowledges that CCA does pose risks to workers who handle the wet wood or burn scraps, and significant pollution around treating plants has been well documented.

Also see Wood Construction Products MSDS.

Phase Out of Chromated-copper Arsenate (CCA) Treated Lumber

In response to these concerns, manufacturers began a voluntary phase out in 2003 of all CCA treated lumber for noncommercial applications. Starting January 1, 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the manufacture of CCA-treated lumber intended to be used in residential settings, including retaining walls, decks, fencing, and playground equipment.

Pressure-treated shakes and shingles were exempted. CCA treatment will also still be available for plywood and heavy timbers used in commercial, industrial, and marine applications. Existing stocks of CCA-treated lumber were mostly depleted by the end of 2004.

Advice for Existing Structures Built Using Chromated-copper Arsenate (CCA) Treated Lumber

The EPA has issued no warnings regarding existing installations of CCA-treated lumber. However, for homeowners who are concerned about potential exposure to chemicals leaching out of the wood, researchers at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) recommend periodically treating the pressure-treated lumber with a water-repellant or a semitransparent penetrating stain. Film-forming finishes, such as paints, are not recommended.

New Wood Preservative & Deck Lumber Treatment Chemicals: Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ) and Copper Azole

The two main chemicals replacing CCA are the waterborne compounds alkaline copper quat (ACQ) and copper azole.

Copper azole Type B (CA-B) has largely replaced Type A (CBC-A) in the United States and Canada.

Both ACQ and copper azole perform as well as CCA and are free of any EPA-listed hazardous compounds.

As with CCA-treated wood, premium treated lumber is available with a factory-applied water repellant.

With significantly higher copper content than CCA lumber, the new materials are 10 to 15% more expensive.

Of greater concern is the fact that the higher concentration of copper makes the lumber more corrosive to certain metals and metal coatings (see “Increased Corrosion Potential,” next page).

Health Precautions for Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ)-Treated Lumber

Despite the lack of chromium, arsenic, or other hazardous chemicals, wood treated with alkaline copper quat (ACQ) and copper azole carry essentially the same handling instructions as CCA-treated materials. Workers handling ACQ and copper azole are still advised by the EPA to wear gloves or wash hands after contact, wear a dust mask when cutting, and not to burn the scraps. Like CCA-treated wood, it is not recommended for direct contact with food or drinking water.

Retention Ratings: Treatment Levels & Durability of Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ)-Treated Lumber

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. For example, deck boards, 2x6s, and 4x4s at the lumberyard will typically have three different treatment levels (Table 4-2 below).

In most cases, lumber will be stamped or tagged with a designation such as “decking,” “above ground,” “ground contact,” or “PWF” (permanent wood foundation). Make sure the material purchased is rated for the intended application or one level higher.

Table 4-2: Pressure treated wood retention levels (C) J Wiley, S Bliss

Borate Treatment for Lumber & Deck Framing

Wood preservatives based on borate compounds have been used for decades abroad and are slowly becoming available in the United States. Borates are noncorrosive to metals and harmless to pets and humans, but they are very effective against insects and decay. Borate’s main limitation is its tendency to leach out of wood that is buried in soil or exposed to regular wetting, making it unsuitable for decks or other exterior applications.

New techniques to better fix the compounds into wood are under development, however, and may soon offer a viable alternative to copper-based treatments.

Increased Corrosion Potential for ACQ and Copper Azole-Treated Lumber

Because of their higher concentrations of copper, ACQ and copper azole are significantly more corrosive to aluminum, steel, and galvanized coatings than CCA (see “Galvanic Corrosion,” page 83). Preliminary tests have also shown that formulations with ammonia-based carriers (used for better penetration in heartwood species such as Douglas fir) are more corrosive than those with an amine or hybrid bases.

Many factors affect corrosion rates, but some studies have found ACQ-treated wood to corrode untreated steel up to four times faster than CCA and to attack galvanized coatings at twice the rate of CCA.

See Rot-Resistant Deck Lumber & Flooring for a disucssion of lumber and flooring alternatives to preservative-treated wood.

Also see Deck Nails, Screws, Hidden Fasteners and see New Preservatives and Corrosion where we describe structural fasteners designed for use in pressure-treated lumber.

Biodegradable Wood Preservatives

A recent addition to wood treatments is Wolmanized® L³ is described as a low-impact, long-lasting preservative treatment with lasting resistance to termites and fungal decay. - Thanks to deck expert Mark Morsching, Everlast for this update, October 2010. (see Deck & Porch Products, Manufacturers) below.

Deck & Porch Resources, Products, Manufacturers: Where to Buy

See Deck & Porch Products, Manufacturers for our complete/updated listings of manufacturers of porch & deck products, materials, coatings, fasteners, lumber, tools.

Deck & Porch Wood Treatment Companies

Arch Wood Protection, Arch Wood Protection, Inc., Arch Treatment Technologies, Inc., 5660 New Northside Dr., Suite 1100 Atlanta, GA 30328, (678) 627-2000- http://www.archchemicals.com
Arch produces Wolmanized® pressure-treated wood
(www.wolmanizedwood.com Copper-azole and borate-treated wood products with optional water repellent) and
Wolmanized® L³, described as a low-impact, long-lasting preservative treatment with lasting resistance to termites and fungal decay. The biocides used in Wolmanized® L³ are biodegradable so they do not accumulate in soils below a deck constructed of this material.
2007 MSDS for Wolmanized Treated Wood, web search 11/9/2010, original source:
http://petersonwoodtreating.com/PDF/Wolmanized%20L3%20Outdoor%20Wood%20MSDS%20041007.pdf
1998 MSDS for Wolmanized Treated Wood, web search 11/9/2010, original source: http://longlifetreatedwood.com/pages/msds%20form.htm
Also see Wood Construction Products MSDS

Osmose, Inc. 1016 Everee Inn Road, Griffin, Georgia 30224, Phone: (770) 233-4200 Fax: (770) 229-5225http://osmosewood.com/,
www.osmose.com ACQ- and borate-treated wood products with water repellent
EndCoat™ BROWN Pressure Treated Wood Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
EndCoat™ SOFT GREEN Pressure Treated Wood Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
- web search 11/9/2010, original source: http://www.osmosewood.com/canada/endcoat/msds.html

Chemical Specialties www.treatedwood.com ACQ-treated wood products with optional water repellent
Chemical Specialties, Inc. . Great Southern Wood Preserving, Incorporated, P.O. Box 610, Abbeville, Alabama 36310, Tel: 334) 585-2291

YellaWood® MSDS MICRONIZED COPPER QUATERNARY (MSDS)
Original source: http://www.greatsouthernwood.com/uploadedFiles/YW_MSDS_063008.pdf
Mcronized Copper Azole Treated Wood(MSD)
Original: http://www.greatsouthernwood.com/GSWPCMS/uploadedFiles/YW_MCA_MSDS 81908.pdf

N-Durz® MSDS N-Durz® Borate Treated Wood (MSDS)
Original: http://www.greatsouthernwood.com/uploadedFiles/NDurzMSDSv2.pdf

ACQ MSDS ACQ Treated Wood (MSDS)
Original: http://www.greatsouthernwood.com/uploadedFiles/ACQ_MSDS_022608.pdf

CCA MSDS CCA Treated Wood (MSDS)
Original: http://www.greatsouthernwood.com/uploadedFiles/CCAMSDS.pdf

Suppliers of Composite Structural Lumber for Decks & Porches

U.S. Plastic Lumber, Boca Raton, FL www.usplasticlumber.com Trimax and Durawood structural plastic lumber

Composite Decking System Suppliers

Certainteed Corp. www.certainteed.com Boardwalk solid composite decking with hidden fasteners and optional railing system

Composite Building Products International www.xtendex.com Xtendex hollow composite decking system with optional railing

Correct Building Products www.correctdeck.com Solid composite decking with hidden fasteners and optional railing system

Fiber Composites www.fibercomposites.com Fiberon solid composite decking and optional railing system

Kadant Composites www.geodeck.com Geodeck hollow composite decking and railing system

Kroy Building Products www.kroybp.com Timberlast solid composite decking with optional hidden fastening system

Louisiana-Pacific Corp www.weatherbest.lpcorp.com. WeatherBest solid composite decking, railings, and accessories

Nexwood Industries Limited www.nexwood.com Hollow composite decking and railing systems

Tendura www.tendura.com TenduraPlank solid tongue-and-groove composite flooring for porches; natural finish or primed for painting

Thermal Industries www.thermalindustries.com Dream Composite solid tongue-and-groove composite decking system with optional vinyl railings

TimberTech Limited www.timbertech.com Floorizon hollow composite decking system, solid composite decking planks, and optional railing system

Trex Company www.trex.com Solid composite decking

Weyerhaeuser Building Products www.choicedek.com ChoiceDeck solid composite lumber and optional railings

Hidden Deck Fastener Suppliers

BEN Manufacturing www.premier1.net/~ben69 Dec-Klips fit between deck planks with prongs into edges; nailed into top of joists; electrogalvanized steel

Blue Heron Enterprises www.ebty.com Eb-Ty UV-resistant polypropylene biscuit fits into slots in edge of decking, screws into top of joist Grabber Construction Products www.deckmaster.com Deckmaster angle bracket screws to side of joist and up into decking; available in galvanized or stainless steel

Simpson Strong-Tie www.strongtie.com DBTC deck ties screw down to top of joist with prongs into edges of decking planks; triple-zinc-coated or stainless steel by special order; disposable plastic driving tool

Spotnails www.spotnails.com Tebo stainless-steel fasteners fit between decking boards with prongs into edges of decking; installed with mallet and proprietary tool

TY-LAN Enterprises Inc. www.shadoetrack.com Shadoe Track angle bracket nailed along top of joist and screws up into bottom of deck boards; available in galvanized, powder-coated, and stainless steel

USP Lumber Connectors www.uspconnectors.com Deck Clip screws into edge of one decking board and locks to next board; requires toenailing one edge of each board

Deck & Porch Industry Associations

American Wood Preservers Association (AWPI) www.awpa.com

California Redwood Association www.calredwood.org

Deck Industry Association www.deckindustry.org

Forest Stewardship Council www.fscus.org Information on certified tropical hardwoods

Rainforest Alliance, Smartwood Program www.rainforest-alliance.org Information on certified tropical hardwoods

Southern Forest Products Association www.sfpa.org

Southern Pine Council www.southernpine.com

Western Wood Products Association www.wwpa.org

Western Wood Preservers Institute www.wwpinstitute.org

-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.

See Codes for Stairs for details about stair building codes and specifications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide, based on the 2009 International Residential Code, American Forest & Paper Association, Inc., provided by reader Mark Morsching from Everflashing.
Mark Morsching, Everflashing, Tel: 800-550-1667, Email: everflashing@gmail.com. The Everflashing product comes in G-185 and Stainless Steel and is intended for use with treated lumber with copper in it. Everflashing produces a variety of specialty flashing products including flashings for use with decks at deck ledgers and deck perimeters.
Summerblue Arts Camp., Two Harbors MN, Lon Church, Director, c/o: Two Harbors High School 405 4Th Avenue, Two Harbors, Minnesota 55616, United States Email: lon_church@yahoo.com

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

Manual for the Inspection of Residential Wood Decks and Balconies, by Cheryl Anderson, Frank Woeste (Forest Products Society), & Joseph Loferski, October 2003, ISBN-13: 978-1892529343, $39.00 at Amazon.com or at the InspectAPediaBookstore
Masonry structures: The Masonry House, Home Inspection of a Masonry Building & Systems, Stephen Showalter (director, actor), DVD, Quoting:
Movie Guide Experienced home inspectors and new home inspectors alike are sure to learn invaluable tips in this release designed to take viewers step-by-step through the home inspection process. In addition to being the former president of the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI), a longstanding member of the NAHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), and the Environmental Standard Organization (IESO), host Stephen Showalter has performed over 8000 building inspections - including environmental assessments. Now, the founder of a national home inspection school and inspection training curriculum shares his extensive experience in the inspection industry with everyday viewers looking to learn more about the process of evaluating homes. Topics covered in this release include: evaluation of masonry walls; detection of spalling from rebar failure; inspection of air conditioning systems; grounds and landscaping; electric systems and panel; plumbing supply and distribution; plumbing fixtures; electric furnaces; appliances; evaluation of electric water heaters; and safety techniques. Jason Buchanan --Jason Buchanan, All Movie Review
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