Tips For Working With Pressure Treated Lumber

[Posted on April 20th, 2014 by Aaron Presley]

Working with pressure treated lumber can ensure the life of your structure. Wood that is not pressure treated and that lacks preservatives can ultimately get wet and warp or rot. This may lead to various stability issues as well as your structure crumbling before your eyes. At Bayou City Lumber, we take the time to ensure these issues don’t happen by providing a higher quality wood from the very beginning.

Knowing what’s in the wood is important to your project. Regular wood may not have preservatives that help to strengthen the fibers. Pressure treated lumber uses water-based preservatives that helps to maintain the integrity of the wood for extended periods of time.

Treated pilings can make a significant difference simply because it is going to withstand the weight of the construction project more effectively. We’re in the industry of working with pressure treated wood and can provide a number of tips.

Any time that you are using pressure treated lumber, it is a good idea to use hot-dipped or stainless steel galvanized nails, bolts, and anchors when building. It can also be advantageous to use copper flashing or vinyl instead of aluminum. The reason for this is because the treated wood can cause the aluminum to corrode.

Treated wood should be cut outdoors and you should always be in the habit of wearing safety googles and a dust mask. Gloves should also be worn when using treated wood and you should wash your hands thoroughly before eating or drinking. While the wood is safe for the environment, it is not something you want to ingest.

The wood’s water resistance is going to be better than standard wood. However, you will still want to use a clear wood preservative on an annual basis if you choose not to paint or stain it.

Working with a pressure treated lumber manufacturer that is familiar with such processes can help you dramatically when determining what you need to buy and what you should expect in future years. There may be some shrinkage across the width and this fact needs to be considered any time that you are building something, whether it be a fence, a deck, or anything else. Our professionals will answer all of the questions that you may have to ensure that you are aware of the pretreated wood options and what it can do. Hairline cracks can form, though it is perfectly natural for them to appear.

The more you know about pressure treated wood and how it works, the more you can see the benefits of using such a lumber. Wood is a high-quality material that can be used for many different things, so if you choose to use pressure treated lumber, it is important to work with a manufacturer that will answer your questions and supply you with various options.