Universal Forest Products

We get this question a lot. The simple answer is pressure-treated lumber can be used in any interior application except cutting boards and countertops. Some have also asked, after they’ve found pressure treated lumber installed inside their homes, if there is any danger in having it indoors. The answer is no. There is no danger of either leaching or off-gassing. But these answers beg another question: Why would you use treated lumber indoors? The reason lumber is treated is to protect it from exterior elements that might cause rot, decay or termite infestation. In a protected environment there is no danger of rot or decay, unless the wood is exposed regularly to moisture, such as near a leaking pipe or window.

Some bathroom sub floor panel products are pressure treated as they may be exposed to moisture on a regular basis and some builders use borate-treated lumber, such as ProWood Borate, for sill plates in areas where termite infestation is common. In extreme areas of termite infestation, such as the US Gulf Coast and Hawaii, the whole structural shell may be constructed using ProWood Borate or other borate-treated lumber products. Other than those examples there would not be a need to use pressure treated lumber indoors.

Universal’s ProWood Micro CA pressure treated lumber uses the MicroPro technology developed by Osmose, Inc. On March 9, 2010 the US Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for the MicroPro technology. Wood products treated with MicroPro, including ProWood Micro CA, are sold in over 5,000 lumber yards and home centers across the US.

The MicroPro pressure treated wood process is Environmentally Preferred Product certified by the testing organization SCS and has earned Green Product Award certification from the National Association of Home Builders Research Center.

An iPod, a Lump of Coal, and Replaceable Trees

If you look across all the green building standards and product-certification systems, one consensus principle that repeatedly comes up is the use of products that are “sustainable.”

A sustainable product lowers pressure on the environment through the use of source materials that are renewable and/or sustainably harvested. The term “sustainably harvested” means the product, or the product’s components, are harvested in a way that doesn’t permanently deplete the source of the material, nor poison or ruin the surrounding area, nor—in detailed analysis—pollute the air on its way to market.

That’s a fairly academic description, so let’s take a practical example. I have an iPod and I suspect you do too. A green product? You bet! By downloading songs off the Internet, I help reduce pollution, because a download avoids the production and shipping of CDs and plastic boxes, and the printing of liner notes. The iPod is green in its application. 

But is the product “sustainable” if the iPod is made in a filthy plant in China and powered by coal generating plants here in the U.S.? In other words, does the manufacture and power generation for the seemingly green iPod poison the air we all breath? In fact it does, thereby ruling the iPod out as a truly sustainable product, its green properties notwithstanding. If you were to power the iPod with hydro or solar, and ensure that the factories are well-run, you’re talking green and sustainable. See the difference?

Let’s take a remodeling example. Consider a high-performance caulk. Let’s say it’s a high-VOC product that is nasty to use because of the fumes. That caulk can be very green indeed, if it stops air infiltration, keeps out moisture, and cuts down on energy costs and mold. But is the product sustainable if the manufacturing process is poisonous? Or if the product risks the health of the contractors, or the occupants who must smell it before the fumes cook off, when they first move in? 

No. So, something can be green in its ultimate application but not sustainable in its manufacture and initial use.

• Performs as a green product
• Has low or no toxicity, and
• Is manufactured in a sustainable manner

That said, sometimes, for lack of choice, you may choose to make a trade off. You pick a product that isn’t very sustainable during production, but is very green in its application. Take a highly durable, high-VOC floor finish. It’s very green in its application and use – because the floor doesn’t have to be stripped and refinished as often – but it’s probably not sustainably manufactured, because the high VOCs contribute to smog and other problems. In this situation, you have to look at the life cycle analysis of the product, and make a judgment of the greenest way to go, on balance. 

Take wood for another example. Wood is clearly a very green building product, but it’s only sustainable if the company that harvests the wood has a sustainable forest plan that doesn’t deplete the source forests, over time and on balance (FSC lumber / FSC wood: FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests). Tropical lumber may be very green because of the durability, but not sustainable if harvested in destructive ways. Some pressure-treated lumber products, such as ProWood Micro, use a treatment process which has received Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) status.

So, for green purists (and that’s a growing number of people) making the judgment of what to use takes research not only of the properties of the product, but of the corporate practices of the manufacturers. If the data is correct, this is a judgment that Americans are increasingly willing to take time for, as they increasingly vote with their dollars for products that are both green and sustainable.

Long known as the leader in decorative railing accessory products, Deckorators now offers a fully integrated deck railing kit of its own.

The sleek, durable top profile creates an eye-catching appearance and is compatible with all Deckorators baluster styles. This innovative new railing system is available in powder-coated black or white and features a lifetime limited warranty. The rails are sold in kits to make purchasing simple. Post sleeves, stair rail bracket kits, angled brackets and matching post caps are also available. All kits can be shipped via UPS.

This new line also features two matching styles and colors of post caps to accent the railing. Deckorators aluminum post caps, available in black or white, include a pyramid and a square, solar-powered post cap. The solar post cap requires no wiring or electricity and comes with two rechargeable AA batteries. The small solar collector rests atop an attractive silhouette light made of shatter-resistant glass. Its glow is perfect for casting a relaxing ambiance on deck areas.

“As an industry leader, we continue to push the design envelope and give builders and consumers world-class options for decks and outdoor living areas. We’re confident our new railing system will be a hit as we showcase it at the 2010 LBM Expo in Boston," said Rick Preble, Director of Product Development for Universal Consumer Products.

Deckorators aluminum railing and deck and fence railing accessories are available through an established network of building material retailers in the United States and Canada. Visit www.deckorators.com for complete information.

The Southern Pine Council recently published its 2010 guide to specifying pressure treated wood: Pressure Treated Southern Pine – standards, specifications and applications. If you've ever had questions regarding this time-honored product line this document will answer them.

• Attributes of the Southern Pine species
• The pressure treating process
• Types of wood preservatives
• The Use Category system (a specifying guide)
• Code standards and building code requirements
• Design values
• Guide to grade and quality marks
• Fastener and connector recommendations
• Use and handling
• Green aspects of wood in general and pressure treated lumber in particular

Here’s the answer to the question of which brand of pressure treated lumber is best:
Universal’s ProWood^® Micro pressure treated lumber products use a wood preservative process that has received environmentally preferable product status. ProWood Micro pressure treated wood products have gained enthusiastic acceptance in the marketplace and are in thousands of retail locations. Its many features and benefits, including sustainability attributes, fastener advantages and performance, make it the choice of professionals and home owners everywhere.

Composite decking is a great alternative to wood decking. And because synthetic decks are made with wood plastic composite material, you need to take precaution when clearing off snow and ice during the winter season.

Here are three key tips for cleaning off snow and ice from your Latitudes composite deck:

• Shovel all loose snow off with a plastic shovel. Shovel parallel with the grain. Make sure there is NOT a metal blade at the end of the shovel as it could scratch the surface.
• After the snow is gone, spread rock salt or calcium chloride over the deck surface and wait for the ice to melt; then simply shovel away using a plastic shovel. Never chop at the ice as it may gouge the surface.
• Once the weather is consistently above freezing, rinse off the deck surface and lightly broom off remaining salt residue.

Just as wood decking materials can get marred or gouged, composite deck surfaces can be scratched just the same. If scratched, I recommend allowing normal wear marks to fade, as they will blend in with the weathered color over time.

I am not aware of any adverse effects from the temporary use of ice melting products on Latitudes and other composite decking brands; however, I recommend using an ice melt product that has a less harsh effect on the surface. These types of ice melt products may indicate "will not harm concrete" or "will not kill grass" on the packaging. Be sure to brush off any residual ice melt product after the ice and snow melts.

Wood fuel pellets are an eco-friendly product, providing a reliable and efficient option for home heating. With lower temperatures and thinning wallets, Universal Forest Products has the solution for your pellet stove fuel needs: Super-premium wood fuel pellets by Rocky Mountain Pellet Company.

Wood fuel heating pellets are a great alternative fuel source for homes and businesses. Heat from wood stove pellets is a carbon neutral, environmentally-friendly heat source that reduces greenhouse emissions, while at the same time providing exceptional comfort.

Use of wood pellet heat is on the rise and consumers should be sure they have a reliable supplier of wood pellet fuel—that's where Universal Forest Products and Rocky Mountain Pellet Company come in.

Super-premium wood fuel pellets produced by Rocky Mountain Pellet Company are made from 100% natural pine wood fiber with no additives, and produce less than one percent ash. With a moisture rating of less than six percent, our super-premium wood fuel pellets burn hotter, longer and provide better overall pellet stove performance.

These super-premium wood heating pellets provide an added environmental benefit. They are produced using dead lodgepole pine trees which were killed by an infestation of mountain pine beetles. The dead trees—over 1.5 million acres—create a fire hazard and impede the regrowth of new forests. Rocky Mountain Pellet Company is able to help solve both environmental issues by using the trees for producing wood fuel pellets.

The last thing a homeowner or builder wants to worry about is termites destroying all the hard work they've put into a structure. A great way to guard against these tiny terrors is with ProWood^® Borate treated lumber from Universal Forest Products.

Using ProWood Borate products is the best way to build a structural shell with the protection of your home in mind. ProWood Borate is specially treated with environmentally-safe borates to resist the formidable Formosan termites, whose colonies can consume 1,000 pounds of wood each year.

ProWood Borate is designed for interior use, and can be used for sill plates and other above-ground applications protected from the weather. It has the look, feel and workability of traditional wood. Distinguished by a bluish hue, Borates have been used for more than 100 years, making them the tried and trusted way to protect lumber.

ProWood Borate treated lumber is rot-resistant and protects against pests and damage such as:

• Standard termites
• Carpenter ants
• Roaches
• Dry rot
• Fungal decay
• Wood-boring beetles

ProWood Borate pressure treated lumber features a limited lifetime warranty and is non-corrosive to metal—eliminating the need for expensive fasteners.

Mold and mildew can be a nuisance on any exterior building surface, regardless of the material. If the conditions are right, they will spawn on wood, plastic, concrete, metal and other surfaces. Mold formation is most prevalent in consistently wet, shaded areas. Spores from the natural environment are carried by the wind and commonly land on decks surfaces. It is important to note that the appearance of mold and mildew is a function of nature, not necessarily a deficiency with any of the material on which it grows.

Deck Cleaning
Periodic washing with soap/detergent and water will help remove surface dirt. This will also help prevent the buildup of pollen, debris and spores that can cause and accelerate mold/mildew growth (it also helps to remove deck mold). Caution: A pressure washer should not be used to “blast” mold/mildew or soils from a deck surface. The abrasive nature of the water stream can potentially damage the material by driving the spores into the material, which may create a morechallenging problem to remediate. A pressure washer with a fan-tipped nozzle should be used only to lightly wet or rinse wood or composite deck surfaces. 

There are many deck wash and exterior cleaning products available at retail. It is important to make sure you use a cleaner specifically intended for your application. After selecting a product, be certain to read, understand and follow all instructions supplied by the manufacturer. Some cleaning products and inhibitors may be more effective than others, depending on the environmental conditions your deck is subjected to. Additionally, it is always a good idea to test the cleaner in a small, inconspicuous area prior to applying it to the entire deck.

Mold Inhibitors
As with deck washes, there are several mold-inhibitor products available from paint stores, hardware stores, online outlets and home centers to help prevent long-term mold/mildew growth. For any product selected, be certain to read, understand and follow all instructions provided by the manufacturer. Depending upon the environmental factors affecting your composite lumber or treated wood deck, some preventive cleaning products may be more effective than others. It may be necessary to try more than one product. For ongoing preventive maintenance, follow the manufacturer’s recommendation.