Last in the series. Thank Grok.

THE OLD HOUSE DOCTOR 3-3-03

 

ENOUGH ALREADY WITH THE PRESSURE TREATED WOOD

OR

OSMOSE SAFETY

 

          I promise that this is the last in my series on pressure treated wood. I’ve told you about the chemicals that are in today’s P.T. wood, and explained the changes that will occur within the next year. Now for safety. These rules apply to both CCA and tomorrow’s P.T. wood, ACQ. Don’t know what I’m talking about? You should have been listening instead of chewing gum and passing notes.

          The copper, chromium and arsenic in CCA are in solution form and can leach into the soil. Organic Gardening claims that raised beds made with CCA timbers can taint your veggies. Use rocks instead, and make sure they don’t glow in the dark.

          Breathing the dust of CCA cannot be good for you: wear a mask when cutting it. If you build decks for a living, this might seem uncomfortable, but slow poisoning through heavy metals is worse. At least use controlled breathing while cutting.

          The manufacturers recommend that scraps should not be burned. So what should you do with them? According to the guy I talked to at Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, scraps and dust should be mixed with other construction trash and taken to the landfill. He said it was in Oklahoma, so this was acceptable. I am not making this up.

          There are alternatives to using CCA or ACQ. Composite wood/plastic products such as “Trex” are made from wood chips and recycled (or virgin) plastic, and are supposed to last five times longer than CCA. This is comforting to the Oklahomans near the landfills, I am sure. It is two to three times as expensive as wood and takes longer to install.

          You could build your deck from redwood or cedar, but they will eventually rot just like any other wood, and are again, more expensive. Using opaque stains, even on CCA, will make your deck last longer.

          Or you could just build a patio out of flat stones and not poison anybody, nor contribute to an industry you might not otherwise care to support.

          Even though I am a carpenter, I don’t like supporting Tree Farms. I plan to start building houses from water. Then when you get a leak in your roof, the water comes together to fill it. Sounds like a plan.

          “VIRGIN” plastic?? PULLL EEEEZE.