Changes made to treated lumber

Treated lumber is not so good anymore

Treated lumber was the lumber of choice for outdoor projects because the chemical additives were designed to keep the lumber from rotting. Patios, verandas and outdoor furniture were all constructed of treated lumber. When it was realized that these chemicals were dangerous to human health, a ban was placed on the use of treated lumber.

Problems with CCA treated lumber

The main culprit in the lumber treatment problem was the CCA treated lumber. CCA stands for chromated copper arsenate and was usually found in lumber used in playground equipment and outdoor construction. It is a bluish green substance that was put on the wood to keep it from deteriorating and to make it resistant to insects, fungi and organisms known to cause wood to rot. CCA treated lumber contains three chemicals: chromium, copper and arsenic. Of these, chromium and arsenic are toxic to humans.

Studies have shown that the chemicals in CCA treated lumber can be released due to normal weathering and exposure to the elements. They can be wipes off the treated lumber when you touch the surface with your hands or clothing.

Alternative Solution with ACQ treated lumber

ACQ treated lumber has now become the treated lumber that is used in outdoor settings. This treated lumber has many benefits in addition to being safer. ACQ treated lumber is easy to work with and can be painted or stained. The scraps from the left over treated lumber can be burned or disposed of in an ordinary landfill and yet it is guaranteed not to rot. It is resistant to insects and termite attack. Therefore it is a good choice for outdoor construction. Even though it is lighter, it is still very strong. Best of all it does not contain any arsenic, chromium or other hazardous chemicals.

There are still precautions to keep in mind when using treated lumber. Make sure that it hasn’t been treated with any hazardous chemicals. You are building something to help you family or neighborhood, so you don’t want the treated lumber you use to be harmful to them.