Pressure treated lumber - basics and beyond

Comments for Use Pressure treated wood for raised garden beds

Sunday, September 13, 2009 by shommestaad:

I don't think pressure treated wood is a good idea for garden beds considering that it is recommended to used gloves when handling the wood and masks when cutting it. Cedar is fairly similar in price and has equal resistance to rot as pressure treated wood.

Thursday, September 17, 2009 by Dick Gauthier:

Thank you for your comment. The use of a dust mask and gloves is a common safety precaution advised for working with any type of lumber, treated or not. In general, cedar is much more expensive than pressure treated lumber. The leading formulation — micronized copper azole — of pressure treated lumber, such as ProWood Micro, is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The vast majority of cedar decking carries no warranty.

Friday, November 20, 2009 by bev:

Thanks. I've been trying to figure out if I could use pressure treated wood for my edible garden. Does this wood contain any arsenic? It doesn't appear so but I just want to make sure. Also do I have to let it sit out for a period before adding dirt? If so, how long?

Friday, November 20, 2009 by Dick Gauthier:

The use of chromated copper arsentate to treat lumber used in residential applications was phased out at the end of 2003. There is no need to let the wood dry out before you add dirt. If you plan to paint, stain or seal the wood wait a few months so it's nice and dry.

Saturday, November 21, 2009 by bev:

This is great news. I look forward to starting my project with my friend Brent in a couple of days. Any advice on using linseed oil to seal the outside of the wood?

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 by Dick Gauthier:

Linseed oil is fine but there are other products that may produce better water repellency. Check with your lumber dealer for his recommendation. Cabot and Wolman both make good coatings for this use. Stay away from film forming coatings like solid color stains or paints.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by B Straube:

I've been doing a lot of research on the use of MCA treaded lumber for raised bed vegetable gardens. I've seen opinions on both sides of the fence. Of course, the manufacturers say it is safe. They want to sell their product. Can anyone offer a link to a neutral and reputable source on this topic that would convince me that it is OK to use for a vegatable garden?

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by Dick Gauthier:

B Straub: Thanks for your inquiry. You’re right. We make ProWood Micro, we want to sell a lot of it and we think it is perfectly safe to use for its intended purposes. But our high opinion of its safety is backed up by ample scientific evidence, as published by independent third party testing agencies. Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a third-party certification and standards development company, has awarded MicroPro® (the chemical formulation used in ProWood Micro) its second Environmentally Preferable certification under SCS’s Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) program, based on Life-Cycle Assessment. This latest certification is for the MicroPro Treated Wood Process using micronized copper and azole to pressure treat wood products. This is the first treated wood process of its kind to receive this certification. Here’s a quotation directly from the SCS report on MicroPro: Largely Eliminates Copper Releases — Wood products treated with the MicroPro process result in the release of up to 95% less copper into aquatic and terrestrial environments when compared to standard treated wood products. The very small amount released bonds readily to organic matter in the soil and becomes biologically inactive, thus effectively eliminating eco-toxic impacts.

Sunday, March 21, 2010 by britt built:

After you build your raised bed planters, cover the inside with 4-mil. poly. Cover the wood only were it contacts the soil.Let it come out at the bottom a few inches then fill with soil. The wood is not in contact with the soil and stays dryer,and will last even longer.

Sunday, March 21, 2010 by britt built:

P.S. Roll the plastic over top of the 2nd.to the last wood tie,staple it down then put your last tie on top of it. This will secure your plastic at the top. use black plastic if you choose. stop soil at at plastic.

Thursday, March 25, 2010 by Dick Gauthier:

Good points, Britt, thanks.

Friday, March 26, 2010 by eliz:

So Dick, You didn't really answer the question. Is mcq timbers safe for raised veggie beds? You referenced many studies but didn't say if it was safe. So i'm figuring it's not or you would have come out and said so.

Friday, March 26, 2010 by Dick Gauthier:

Sorry, thought it was made clear in my March 9 post when I said "we think it is perfectly safe...". So, here you go: ProWood Micro CA timbers are safe for use in raised garden beds. Raised "veggie" beds too.

Saturday, April 24, 2010 by Elliott Rakofsky:

Is micronized copper azole safe for using for a deck that children dogs will lie on for several years.

Monday, April 26, 2010 by Dick Gauthier:

Elliott: Yes, wood treated with MCA (micronized copper azole) is safe for dogs and children to lie on for several years. Except when there is severe weather—then you may want to considering letting your kid inside.

Monday, May 3, 2010 by Christi:

Why is MCA-treated wood not recommended for composting or burning? What is not safe about doing either?

Monday, May 3, 2010 by craig s.:

if there is no problem using the new formulation of the treated wood for raised garden & vegetable beds, why would you not be able to burn or compost it instead of adding to a landfill? if the product is not safe to compost, which is essentially the natural breakdown of the material, how can it be safe to use for edible plants? what would be occurring in the compost process that wouldn't be occurring in my raised bed over time?

Thursday, May 6, 2010 by Dick Gauthier:

Christi and Craig: Thanks for your inquiries. First, there is a simple reason treated lumber is not recommended for composting: It won’t compost. The pressure treatment is there to effect protection from decay. If you put a treated 6” 2x4 in the heap in March, you’ll still have a 6” 2x4 in August. Treated wood must not be burned because combustion breaks the unique bond between the preservative and the wood. When the bond is destroyed, the components of the preservative can be release in the form of ash and particulates. These can be harmful if inhaled. The American Medical Assn also advises against burning plywood, particleboard and old furniture. Finally, as to Craig’s last question: Q: what would be occurring in the compost process that wouldn't be occurring in my raised bed over time? A: In both applications, in regards to the treated lumber, here’s what’s occurring: Nothing.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 by Al Mackenzie:

Is any information available on pressure treated wood reacting with aluminum composite panel siding?

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Dick Gauthier:

Al: One of the ways ProWood Micro CA is different from other pressure treated lumber formulations (especially ACQ) is that it is less corrosive to fasteners. And, importantly, it can be placed in contact with aluminum. On the end tag of each board is information regarding whether it has been treated for use above ground or for ground contact. ProWood Micro CA treated for ground contact is the one you want if it will be in contact with aluminum.

Monday, August 23, 2010 by kendra:

this was all very helpful thanks for your website

Friday, November 5, 2010 by Mark Alper:

I wanted to use treated 1x6s and 6x6s in ground to enclose a brick walkway. i was told the 6x6s are treated for ground contact but the 1x6s (and 2x6s) are not treated for ground contact and would rot within one year in in ground. Is that correct? Is there anything I can do to get 1x6s (or 2x6s) treated for ground contact?

Friday, November 5, 2010 by Dick Gauthier:

Mark: The products treated for ground contact are warranted for one year but that does not mean they become unserviceable on day 366. Depending on the application, they may last for many years. If you want to add your own protection, I would advise that you coat the boards with either an opaque stain or paint, with a prime coat. Also be sure to check the end tag on pressure-treated boards to determine their intended end use.

Friday, February 18, 2011 by Jason:

I bought landscape timbers that note, "Micronized Copper Azole has been applied to the surface of this product. It has not been pressure treated in compliance of the Georgia Treated Products Act..." Should I be concerned with this when using it in my garden beds? I see a lot of pressure treated talk, but none about surface treatment or is it a moot point?

Friday, February 18, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Jason: The non-compliance reference is to the lack of full penetration achieved when treating landscape timbers. By nature of their high moisture content it is difficult to penetrate the wood cells with preservative in green landscape ties. MCA is a safe preservative and appropriate for use in garden beds.

Thursday, March 3, 2011 by Sandie:

Is it safe to use MCA in Organic raised bed gardens as the copper azola (CA-B) contains fungicides that can leach into crops. Is it this a contamnant for organic gardening?

Friday, March 4, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Thanks for your questions, Sandie. Using ProWood Micro in raised garden beds is safe. In a comment above, dated March 9, 2010, you will see info from Scientific Certification Systems, a third-party certification and standards development company. It has awarded MicroPro® (the chemical formulation used in ProWood Micro) its second Environmentally Preferable certification under SCS’s Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) program, based on Life-Cycle Assessment. Wood products treated with the MicroPro process result in the release of up to 95% less copper into aquatic and terrestrial environments when compared to standard treated wood products. The very small amount released bonds readily to organic matter in the soil and becomes biologically inactive, thus effectively eliminating eco-toxic impacts.

Sunday, March 6, 2011 by Aliya:

I know there are several types of treated wood. two of them are micronized copper quat and micronized copper azole. Are these the same? if not which is better for garden use?
thank you

Monday, March 7, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Aliya: As far as efficacy and safety for use in raised garden beds both MCQ (micronized copper quat) and MCA (micronized copper azole) are the same. Safe and effective.

Sunday, March 20, 2011 by Tom:

I've read the above posts and responses and understand your position that MCA treated wood is fine for raised beds. BUT, why does the Home Depot Weathershield product flyer state "do not use pressure treated wood in circumstances where the preservative may become a component of food, animal feed, or beehives"?

Also, for what is worth, the lumber sales folks are saying "no, it is not safe for raised beds". Please clarify. TIA!

Monday, March 21, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Tom: Thanks for the questions; I understand the need for clarification. As regards your first comment, for treated wood to have any meaningful affect on vegetables grown in a raised bed, the preservative components would need to migrate from the wood to the soil, then through the soil to the root system and ultimately be taken up by the root system. Due to the strong bond between the micronized treating formulation and the wood itself, this will not happen in sufficient quantities for the preservative to become “a component of food”. This is fundamentally different from direct contact between food and the surface of the treated wood (a cutting board is an example). As regards the second, despite our best efforts, regretfully, retail store associates are not always as informed as they should be.

Monday, March 21, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Tom: To further clarify, I am referring to ProWood Micro CA (MCA) in these posts.

Sunday, March 27, 2011 by Tom Wilhelm:

Dick...thanks for the follow up. Boy, clarity is not the word of the day. "Contact" vs "component" is quite different...it appears to me that the warning label is guarding against the preservative becoming a component of the food product. And you comments state that the amounts are insignificant. The warning label needs to specify that "direct contact" is not recommended but soil contact in planting beds, even for food products, is acceptable. Both positions cannot be accurate.

Thanks.

Tom..............

Monday, April 11, 2011 by Caren:

Is this safe to use in a dog pen, with the possibility that it may be chewed.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Caren: Good question... Horses often chew on the top rail of their stable enclosures. This is called “cribbing” and it can cause digestive problems and weight loss. For similar reasons dog owners should not let dogs chew on lumber. Wood, treated or not, isn't good for dogs to ingest (or humans for that matter). For this reason I would avoid building a dog pen out of wood – treated or not – if the dog is prone to chewing, unless the dog is blocked from accessing the wood.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 by Seth:

I think as far as gardening goes the key work here is ORGANIC. Can you truly state that your treated lumber is safe for a true organic garden?

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Seth: Yes.

Saturday, April 16, 2011 by Ben:

I believe the research about the contaminants but do you recommend putting weed guard/garden fabric over the wood (in between the soil and wood) in a raised veggie bed to last longer?

Monday, April 18, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Ben: Covering the wood with fabric would be “guilding the lilly” so to speak. As long as you choose wood that is treated for ground contact (it will say so on the end tag), there is no need to do anything extra to protect the wood. I appreciate your believing the research but I have to challenge you on the term “contaminants”. The formulation in the wood preserves it and does not contaminate its surroundings. Thanks.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 by Sandie:

I'm still not convinced on the safety of using this material for an organic raised bed garden. If this material kills bug's etc. I beleive a small amount over time can leave a toxic residue in the soil which will come into our food source. We were told many things in the past that things were safe but they weren't. How can you be absolutely sure this will not be harmful to the crops we organically plant?

Friday, April 22, 2011 by Bill:

Can you use pressure treated lumber as a border for landscape beds? Relocating from New England, I used PT 2X6 which I submerged into the ground so that the top of the rail was about 3/4" below the "grass cutting" height. This kept the mulch in the bed and kept the grass from creeping into the bed.

Can I do the same thing in Florida? Or am I inviting a pest problem?

Monday, April 25, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Bill: As long as you buy pressure treated wood that is certified for “ground contact” (check the end tag) the answer to your question is “yes”.

Monday, April 25, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Sandie: A termite uses wood as a direct food source. When he dines on a treated 4x4 he’s eating both the wood and a full concentration of the preservative. And he dies a deserved and ignominious death. A bug that’s in the soil right next to the treated wood but doesn’t bother to actually EAT the wood is not harmed. So, it’s a big leap from direct ingestion by a bug, to migration from a fixed source (the wood), thru the soil, up the root, into the pot or onto the plate, and into the human belly. Even over time. A lot of time. ProWood Micro CA uses the newest micronizing technology to fix the preservative to the wood. This has been recognized by green certifications from Scientific Certification Systems (the same people that certify Starbucks coffee beans) with their Environmentally Preferred Product designation, the National Association of Home Builders’ Green Product Award and GreenGuard Children and Schools. But, Sandie, even with all these independent third party endorsements, we still rely on our own research and testing – lots of testing – to make sure the products we produce won’t harm people and pets. You can read more detail here: http://www.ufpi.com/product/pwmicro/epp.htm

Sunday, May 1, 2011 by Allyson:

We just planted a raised vegetable garden bed using MCA treated wood. The lumber company swore up and down that it would not leach into our soil and that it is fine to use for a raised garden bed. However, I am looking at the endtag and it says "Above Ground Only." Should I be concerned about this?

Monday, May 2, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Allyson: First, yes, lumber treated with MCA is safe for use in a raised garden bed. Second, although lumber treated for “ground contact” is preferable for a raised bed, sometimes it is hard to find 2-by lumber that is treated to that standard. Since the lumber for a raised bed is used only to keep dirt in place, there is not a real safety concern with a member becoming structurally unsound. In other words, it’s not holding anything up, such as a deck, balcony or walkway. Even though your 2-by’s are certified only for “above ground”, their serviceability as components of a raised bed will last many years. If it were my raised bed I wouldn’t be concerned. Timbers (4x4’s, 6x6’s) are usually treated for ground contact since they often are used for structural applications. They are also ideal for raised beds.

Friday, May 13, 2011 by Peter Dyrness:

Mr. Gauthier your patience is to be commended for you have answered the same question multiple times. What I find problematical however is the following: "Wood products treated with the MicroPro process result in the release of up to 95% less copper into aquatic and terrestrial environments when compared to standard treated wood products." 95% less of what original amount of copper in the other products. Saying it is 95 percent less is of no real help as it does not address at what level of release copper is deemed to be deleterious to health, and what the former products release percentage was. I am not critical of you Mr. Gauthier, just the prevelance of fuzzy language being used to support a position. For the rest of the people on this thread if you have concerns there are other ways to make a garden bed. And for those not old enough, look up DDT, it was (and is) a very effective pesticide and was used widely in the US, what was not known was that it bioaccumulates as it moves up the food chain and has lethal effects. I am not suggesting that treated lumber falls into that category only to say that in its day DDT was thought to be safe as well.

Monday, May 16, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Peter, thanks for your comment. First, the 95% less copper pertains to the fact that this product is environmentally preferable to other treated wood products using Life Cycle Assessment concepts. It has nothing to do with the question of raised beds. This is because the alternative it is compared to, ACQ treated wood, is also safe for raised beds. Our position on the use of this product is driven by two facts. First, a very detailed study of the use of CCA treated wood in raised bed vegetable gardens was done several years ago. It concluded that there was no meaningful up take of the preservative and therefore no meaningful risk. Second, CCA used arsenic and chromium compounds along with copper to protect the wood products. The potential for human health risks is certainly much higher for these compounds compared to copper. Yet, because there was no meaningful exposure, there is no meaningful risk.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 by Benjamin Franklin:

As I understand it, "Micronized Copper Azole" is safe for raised beds. This includes plants with fruit making contact with the actual wood, correct? I am racking grape vines soon, and my concern is with potential "leeching" of chemicals into the fruit, the same as with some others' concerns, though not directly stated previously. ACQ was hazardous as such because of the arsonic.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Ben: MCA is safe for this purpose. And, by the way, ACQ contains no arsenic.

Monday, June 6, 2011 by Jim:

I recently built a chicken coop using MCA. I initially didn't think of the health impact of using PT wood, but now after doing some research, I have concerns. I read that the copper in MCA is actually ground down to nano-scale particles, and nanoparticles of copper have been shown in scientific research to be highly toxic (as opposed to micro-level particles which are considered non toxic). Should I be concerned about livestock contact with this product? Is there a livestock safe finish you recommend for sealing the wood to further prevent the release of copper nanoparticles?

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Jim: As long as wood does not become a part of an animal’s diet, it will be safe for a great building material for pens and enclosures. Any wood, treated or untreated, when eaten by any animal, can lead to digestive problems and shouldn’t be used if the animal may chew on or eat it.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011 by cindy:

what if that termite and his friends eat some of the wood and all die in my garden bed, decomposing in the soil for the plants to use and me to eat?

are these particle bonds not ever affected by breaking down forces of time and water?

Thursday, June 9, 2011 by Candy:

Hello! I have 14 ACQ treated beds which I have had no issues with for the last 6 years. That said, I am looking at expanding my gardens and need some info about the MCA treatment. I want to put in blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. These are like acidic soil to various degrees. The lowest the acid levels should reach is around 5. The acidity will be maintained by using organic materials such as meals, sulphur and as a buffer with the raspberries to keep it closer to 6.2 lime pellets. My questions is do either of these environments cause either leaching on the chemicals into the soil and the plants (which will remain in those soils unlike tomatoes or other single season veggies) and if the pH will affect the life of the materials.

Thank you and All Blessings!

Thursday, June 9, 2011 by Wayne:

recently installed Raised Beds and built a vegetable garden for a friend of mine. We used 'Copper Azole' treated pressurized wood. The wood was the only thing I never really thought about as far as safety concerns. I used organic soil, straw and all organically certified grown seedlings. My friend is concerned that the wood will leach harmful chemicals and that the garden itself will uptake these chemicals into the vegetables. I found an article 'Pressure Treated Wood: Should I or Shouldn't I use it?' on ecologycenter dot org, one of many when researching this issue. The article is informative, but speaks of CCA, which is the Arsenic based treatment that was banned back in 2003. The wood I used is CA-Copper Azole treated as I mentioned before, and I haven't found to much detailed information or studies on this and I was wondering if you might have further information. Can you share peer reviewed studies on leaching rates, etc. ?

Thursday, June 9, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Cindy: The demise of a termite is cause for celebration, not concern. And its demise won’t necessarily come from dining on PT wood. PT wood is not like the ant trap that kills the ant shortly after they enter. Most often they just don’t like the taste and move on. Even if a termite suffers its postprandial death in your garden bed there is no reason to believe that decomposing insect matter would have any negative impact on the terrestrial tomb. And so, there is not greater danger of uptake into plant roots because of this.

Thursday, June 9, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Candy: The pH of the soil will not affect MCA’s ability to stay bonded to the lumber. Please my see earlier comments / posts for detail on why you should have no concerns regarding uptake into plants.

Thursday, June 9, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Wayne: First, CCA was never banned; it is still sold today but is restricted to certain commercial uses. We do not treat with CA as we think the micronization of the copper in MCA makes it a superior product. I did a quick search for leaching studies for CA and came up empty. You may try to contact Arch Chemicals, maker of CA. They may be able to help you.

Friday, July 22, 2011 by Gerald Brinson:

I planted tomato plants in a couple of five gallon buckets. I put a piece of old treated 4x4 (15years old)in the bottom and drilled holes above the 4x4 for drainage. Will the tomatoes be safe to eat because of the old treated 4x4's in the bottom wicking up the roots of the plant and into the tomatoes?? Thank You

Saturday, July 23, 2011 by Andrea:

I recently took a class at the local extension office on raised bed vegetable gardening. They made a point to tell us that treated lumber is now acceptable to use for building the beds. They said that if any copper were to leach into the soil, it is a natural mineral in soils that the plant can use. If something were severely wrong with the treated lumber and it was leaching extreme quantities of copper, the plant would die far before being able to produce any edibles with questionable quantities of copper in them. Info on copper can be found here: http://www.growercentral.com/UPLOADS/PDFS/copper%20chelate%2015%20brochure.pdf

Monday, July 25, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Gerald: Roots look for minerals – phosphorous, nitrogen, potassium for example – and break it down on contact. If there’s a 4x4 in the bottom of a bucket it’s possible the roots will grab onto it. It’s occupying a small, confined space, unlike the environment of a raised bed. So, if there is any leaching of the treatment chemical (which is doubtful after 15 years) the roots may take it up. Or not. It’s hard to say. Is this cause for concern? Probably not. But, I gotta ask: Why a 4x4 in the bottom of a bucket? The use you describe is not an intended use for a pressure treated 4x4 so right off the bat I’d say find something else. If you need an anchor put a couple rocks in there.

Monday, July 25, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Andrea: Good info, thanks. As a matter of fact, as indicated in the following link, copper in various forms can be used as a fungicide in the USDA Organic Program. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5091705

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by mic:

Is there creosote in your lumber?

Thursday, September 15, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

mic: No, there is not.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 by Michelle:

My children were recently outside helping their father build a swingset and some cutting was involved. I'm concerned about the kids inhaling MCA. They are 6 and 7 and had saw dust on their cloths. Please Help.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Michelle: You have no cause for concern. Superficial exposure to sawdust from cutting
ProWood Micro will harm neither children nor adults. More detail on the subject can be found
here: http://www.ufpi.com/product/pwmicro/using-prowood/handling-and-disposal.htm

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 by Maren:

Hi. Again, kudos to Dick on your patience with this lengthy thread! I am about to build a gate for my vegetable garden, and while I've done a lot of other exterior building using locust, I don't know whether I'll have enough left over for the gate after one last big project -- but am tired of my jury-rigged passageway in the absence of a gate in the meantime (both due to inconvenience and woodchucks). So I'm thinking of just putting it together out of 2x4's, possibly MCA. (otherwise plain lumber, in which case it's an experiment in how long it'll last and by the time it rots I'll know whether I have spare locust timbers). It will be framed onto rather substantial fenceposts (~10" locust logs set into the ground). Although you've addressed the question of leaching and plant uptake pretty thoroughly, I wonder about direct handling... although you've said that children and pets are safe lying on a deck (aside from inclement weather, of course ;^) ), handling recommendations include wearing gloves. However, a gate and its jamb would see a lot of hand contact, often in conjunction with food-handling and eating, often by children. Would staining or painting help? I see that stain is recommended over paint; would Spar polyurethane be a suitable treatment? (I have been treating my exterior locust with Bora-care and then Land Ark, a mix of tung oil, linseed oil, pine rosin, beeswax, and limonene.)

Thanks for the info!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Maren: thanks for the inquiry. I have no hesitation recommending MCA treated wood for a gate application. As with hand and stair rails on a deck, and playground equipment, it is perfectly safe for daily handling.

Sunday, December 18, 2011 by Gregg:

I've seen warnings against using MCA or MCQ treated wood for beehive components but am wondering why if it is OK to use in garden applications. Has any scientific testing been done in this area? If a treated product that was safe for the bees and the people that eat honey was available, it would be a boon.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 by Dick Gauthier:

Gregg: The caution on beehives is based on honey production and not wanting the very small but measurable amount of dislodged preservative to end up in the honey which is then directly ingested. The reason we don’t have that concern with vegetable gardens is that the preservative is not taken up by the plants in any meaningful way so there is no meaningful exposure path.

Friday, January 27, 2012 by Corey:

@ I don't think pressure treated wood is a good idea for garden beds considering that it is recommended to used gloves when handling the wood and masks when cutting it. Cedar is fairly similar in price and has equal resistance to rot as pressure treated wood.

Cedar is about 2.5 times as expensive as pressure treated wood.
Even organic soil warns users to use gloves when handling the product.

Friday, January 27, 2012 by Dick Gauthier:

Corey: The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for treated and untreated lumber are almost identical. As basic safety precautions, gloves and masks are recommended for cutting all wood, treated or not. With increasing sapwood content in both cedar and redwood they can be relied on less than ProWood Micro for long-term serviceability. ProWood Micro carries a lifetime limited warranty. Neither cedar nor redwood
offer a warranty of any kind.

Monday, January 30, 2012 by Charles:

Dick - thanks for your tireless answers. Is ACQ the same as copper azole?

Monday, January 30, 2012 by Dick Gauthier:

Charles: Glad you appreciate the forum, but it's no big deal for me as the questions are easier than the ones I get from my wife. ACQ stands for Amine Copper Quaternary, which is different from Copper Azole, also known as CA. ProWood Micro is micronized copper Azole which is an appreciable advancement over ACQ.

Leave a comment

Name
Email
Your comment
(No HTML)
Type the text from the image below