Help

Tricks for Treated Lumber

It's been seven years since the Environmental Protection Agency announced the phase-out of chromated-copper-arsenate (CCA)treated lumber. CCA's replacements, although safer, bring different challenges to your outdoor projects. Here's what you need to know.

Share
Print
Comments (3)

Pages in this Story:

Lumber

Hot-dip galvanized fasteners have a
thicker zinc coating and therefore
provide more rust resistance than
fasteners galvanized by other
means.

Stainless-steel fasteners are nearly
impervious to corrosion, but can cost
twice as much as hot-dip galvanized.

Some manufacturers use proprietary
anti-corrosion layers. They are often
color-matched to blend with the
wood. Many offer a lifetime guarantee
against corrosion.

Lumber

CA, ACQ, MCQ, Who?

Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) and copper azole (CA) accepted CCA's abdication of the outdoor-lumber throne with a fairly smooth transfer of power. Both treatments provide similar, high levels of preservative power with arsenic-free chemicals.

In order to achieve the preservative power of CCA, ACQ and CA ramp up the amount of copper used. But because copper speeds corrosion in ferrous metals, steel fasteners must be chosen with care. (See photos.)

The newest kid on the block, micronized copper quat (often marked MCQ) substitutes dissolved copper with a finely ground copper particulate. While it doesn't yet have the long, proven track record of ACQ and CA, proponents claim MCQ achieves the same level of wood preservation and rot-resistance with a lowered level of fastener corrosion.

Continued on page 2: A Chemical Bath Starts the Process

Free Year + Free Gift! Order NOW and get 1 FREE YEAR of Wood® Magazine! PLUS you'll get our Great Projects for Your Shop guide instantly! That's 2 full years (14 issues) for the 1-year-rate – just $28.00. This is a limited-time offer, so HURRY! (U.S. orders only) (Click here for Canadian orders)

First Name:

Last Name:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Email Address:

100% Money-Back Guarantee: You must be pleased, or you may cancel any time during the life of your subscription and receive a refund on any unserved issues – no questions asked. Wood® Magazine is currently published 7 times annually – subject to change without notice. Double issues may be published, which count as 2 issues. Applicable sales tax will be added. E-mail address required to access your account and member benefits online. We will not share your e-mail address with anyone. Click here to view our privacy policy.

Comments (3)

benewah67 wrote:

where do you find .60 treated deck material

1/4/2012 03:53:16 PM Report Abuse

TXwoodrat wrote:

Always check the number on the label stapled to the wood, .20 Won't last long. Most big box stores only carry .20. If you want your treated lumber to last any length of time get .40 or above. I only buy marine grade .60 when I buy treated lumber. Landscape timbers are all rated .20, so expect to replace them much sooner than you would think. Note that the .20 label says "not for ground contact," but these are "landscape" timbers so does that make sense?

6/15/2011 12:16:16 PM Report Abuse

Easy Rider wrote:

To save this document without select and paste, print the document to a PDF Printer. Go to PrimoPDF.com and download the FREE printer software. When you print to the PRIMOPDF printer, it will create a PDF document of the article you are trying to print at a save location you choose. No more copy and paste.

8/6/2010 02:01:44 PM Report Abuse