Wood Preservatives and Pressure Treating

Presentation by Dr. Jeff Morrell, Oregon State University, on why we pressure treat wood products and important considerations in specifying and using preservative treated wood in aquatic and sensitive environments.

[@westvalley411]

Every time I walk through the lumber isle at Home Depot I will hold my head high. I now know the basics Thank you.

[@Gonzo.S.Thompson]

🤦‍♂️

[@williamterry3177]

Very interesting. Not just another product sales pitch! Thank you.

[@FryChicken]

This was great. I wish there were more research and investment in preserving wood. There is a lot of broo-ha-ha about forest conservation and the like. A politician recently offered $20 billion towards rainforest conservation efforts. How many federal dollars are going towards maximizing the wood we already use? What about making it stronger or have other desirable properties for construction? Definitely not $20 billion.

[@marcclement7396]

Very informative. Goes to show nerds can be nerdy about any topic. Seriously though good job.

[@therealdirtybutler]

Great video. Im a treated wood expert now! Thanks

[@canygard]

Wonder if every person staining their deck is watching this? I feel much more knowledgeable.

[@12dollacigarette]

Just what I was looking for. Thanks!

[@RestoreITdontJunkIT]

Great content thank you sir.

[@Spinmaster27]

Great video! Learned a ton!

[@lesterwatson8519]

Great video. I have noticed that some treated wood has a 2.0 rating and some has a 4.0 rating. I know that 2.0 is for non ground contact and 4.0 is for wood that will have ground contact. My question is, what makes the difference is it the amount of pressure applied during the treating process, the length of time it is left in the treatment tank or vessel, or is is it the type chemical, or is it all of the prior. I live in zone 4, so what is recommended for this area to get the longest in ground durability?

[@WoodThatLasts]

Retentions, or the amount of preservative in treated wood, are different for the specific preservative as well as the exposure. The ratings you note aren’t necessarily based on the pressure level or time in the retort. Wood treated for the same exposure, say UC4A Ground Contact, can have a different retention based on the preservative, as some are equally effective at lower levels. When choosing treat wood, rely on the Use Category to match how you will use it, not the retention.

[@timfoster5043]

Good information to know.

[@alexwonner7469]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. So much to learn....

[@KL-xx6il]

I learned something today. thank you sir.

[@bonehead3545]

Thank you for the lecture

[@WarriorsPhoto]

I learned a lot and thank you.

[@webdavid570]

Thank you for the instructive video. You say the perservatives has a low-environmental impact, but you mentionned there was residutes over the surface after the pressured treatement. Could those preservatives residutes leech into the environment, and can they have health impact on humans or wildlife after installing them ? When the treated wood reach it's end of life cycle, how should it be processed to minimize the environmental impact ? I'd also assume that as the wood decay overtime, the wood will eventually leech those chimicals back into the environment ?

[@WoodThatLasts]

All preservatives must go through regular reviews by the EPA to ensure they do not pose a risk to the environment or human health. These reviews take into account any reports of issues with preservatives moving into the environment. Also, today's preservatives are composed of copper, a naturally occurring mineral, and azoles, which are found in disinfectant products used in everyday life. The environmental risks of these components are very low. It's important to remember the amount of preservative is relatively low. A 12-foot 2x6 treated to Above Ground use only has about 1 oz. of preservative in the wood. The same piece treated to Ground Contact has just 2.5 oz. Overall, there is only a small risk of preservatives impacting the environment, particularly compared to other substances we are using and disposing today in many other products.

[@jacobkomnath7961]

How do these modern methods compare to the the ancient way of charring the wood and then oiling it?

[@butchbernhardt496]

Today's preservatives and the pressure treating system provides much more protection from deterioration than the ways you described. The key difference is that pressure treating integrates preservatives into the wood fiber. The methods you describe are only on the surface of the wood and do not offer lasting protection.

[@jacobkomnath7961]

@@butchbernhardt496 is there like a websites or something that shows different types of treatments and their lifespans?

[@SpencerjonesBoxing]

Exactly, ancients done everything better

[@aaronlohr8477]

Done with ancient wood? Perhaps it’s better. Done with modern wood it is inferior to wood preservatives.

[@aturkimi8626]

I like your fluency

[@vonjournet]

What's the best protection I can use for untreated wood trying to save money on a shed build

[@WoodThatLasts]

The best protection is pressure treating and you cannot do that after the wood has been put in place. Finishing the wood with paints and stains can help extend the life, but that protection is not equal to pressure treating.

[@otrotland5377]

I built a small deck with lowes pressure treated wood, the support boards, 2 x 6 's complety rooted out and fell apart? it was not on the ground. The support boards do not get stained?

[@rossr6616]

Hi Dr. Morrell, Has the OSU long term study included options like Japanese Scorching technique or "Home Remedies" like Diesel/Motor Oil mixes? thanks

[@butchbernhardt496]

There have been studies of other coating products that have claimed to be as effective as pressure treating (preservedwood.org/portals/0/documents/WWPI_field_test_Hilo_Feb_2020.pdf). The results indicate such products are not effective against termites nor decay.

[@bill4639]

Treat wood with your commercial copper fungicides and absolutely use used motor oil as well. Nothing better than used motor oil.

[@howiesvendali6107]

interesting video

[@woodman1701]

Hi guys. I saw a video saying burning pressure treated wood leaves copper in ashes. That’s a health hazard. My question is can you char pressure treated post ends for ground contact (not leaving any ashes) and not have any health implications? Thanks

[@butchbernhardt496]

Charring the post ends that go into the ground will not provide much protection. It would be better to place the factory-treated end into the ground and use field treating on the cut end above the ground for best protection.

[@Dollapfin]

You can’t make a wood last longer than black locust or Osage orange or ipe or whatever else. The are nearly indestructable.

[@christschool]

True, but they are not practical from a cost point.

[@atomharris]

Please advise on effectiveness of Double Diffusion with Copper Sulfate and Sodium Fluoride .

[@butchbernhardt496]

We're not aware of any research into those chemicals. Certainly, copper has proven to be an effective protection for wood. Not sure about the double diffusion process you mention. I do know that the major preservative manufacturers have sizeable research and development departments that for decades have looked into a variety of chemicals and processes to improve wood durability. The fact that those chemicals and processes are not in use would indicate they may not perform as expected.

[@tareksaba1ify]

What wood and treatment is best used for retaining walls on the west coast californiq 5 miles inland from the ocean . Thanks

[@butchbernhardt496]

The most readily available preservatives in California for such applications would be Copper Azole (CA-C), Ammoniacal Copper Zinc Arsenate (ACZA) or CCA.

[@missiontrails]

So informative and succinct. Thank you.

[@chris24hdez]

I dislike pressure treated fence panels because they sag soon after installation.

[@timfoster5043]

I think there are a couple of factors in play. 1. PT pine is wet when you get it from the big box store. So Ideally, you'd want the pressure-treated wood to dry (out of sunlight!) for a week or so before installing. When the moisture levels have equalized, your wood is going to be more stable 2. Pine, the most common wood for fence panels, is a very bendy (unstable) wood.

[@kenporonin1]

The quality of today's wood is so inferior to that of 50 or 100 years ago that a preservative is necessary to get to last a fraction of what yesteryear's untreated wood would last. That has been my experience.

[@WoodThatLasts]

That is simply incorrect. Trees and the wood that comes from them have not changed over the past century. Wood from the past deteriorated just like the wood of today deteriorates when unprotected from insects and decay fungi. Preservatives in wood are necessary when that wood is used in applications where there is high risk to deterioration. That has always been the case and wistful thinking that everything was better in the past is erroneous.

[@chadkline4268]

I agree with the OP. Treated wood warps, it's full of cracks and stripped areas, it's not dense, and the wood type is never labeled. That is relatively new in the market. I never saw such crappy wood in the 60s and 70s.

[@bombocropper5142]

It's labled, it's density is not 'all' compromised, it's not 'all' cracked.

[@julienramos7792]

what is a good wood to use in a vegetable garden ? or what can i treat it with to deter termites etc

[@WoodThatLasts]

Preserved wood is a good choice for garden boxes. Research by Oregon State University (preservedwood.org/portals/0/documents/PW_in_planters.pdf) shows any preservatives migrating from the wood do not impact the vegetables or plants. You'll want to make sure to specify a Ground Contact treated wood, since garden boxes contain soil that will hold moisture near the wood and increase the risk of deterioration.

[@osmosisdaily]

I can’t tell if the souther yellow pine at Home Depot is treated or not, not by smell at least. Is all yellow pine treated?

[@WoodThatLasts]

Most treated wood products sold in retail locations will have an end tag that indicates the preservative used, the retention or amount of preservative in the wood and the proper application such as Above Ground or Ground Contact as described in the Use Category or UC. Not all southern yellow pine is treated, but the species is by far the most popular for pressure treating and is the most available treated product in retail locations.

[@osmosisdaily]

@@WoodThatLasts thanks for the reply! I will be sure to look today. Looking to replace my boat trailer bunks, but it’s aluminum and wouldn’t want to have any copper treated wood around them. But this was the first video (and reply) that broke it down more simple, thank you🫡

[@lindapetersen1800]

FOR A LADY OR ANOTHER PERSON IT IS LIKE FALLING A TREE THEN CUTTING INTO SIZES 2X4 2X6'S AND THEN IF A PERSON HAD A PRESSURE COOKER LARGE ENOUGH FOR ALL OF THAT AND THE TREATMENT OF STUFF TO GO INTO IT AND THEN PRESSURE IT FOR SO LONG RIGHT ???

[@butchbernhardt496]

Not quite. You need to be registered with the EPA to purchase and use most preservatives. And you need specific equipment to complete the treating process.

[@chineyeokeke1343]

I love it so much thank you

[@WoodThatLasts]

I'm glad you like it

[@sdvr1]

Hello Sir my question is is that posible or correct to use only threated wood to frame a house Why not to use all wood pressure threated?

[@WoodThatLasts]

Treated wood offers protection that is not needed for typical wood framing in home construction. Wood framing in a house is not readily exposed to moisture and insects, so the risk is very low. Treated wood is intended for outdoor exposures where it will be regularly exposed to water from rain and snow or when in the ground, at risk for termites and other wood destroying insects. In areas where termites are a high risk, such as Hawaii, wood framing is required to be treated under the state building codes.

[@lawrencepatrick2486]

What is best borax boric acid mix composition as preservative

[@butchbernhardt496]

AWPA standards for borate to meet Use Category 1 and 2, above ground for interior construction, require retention of 0.17 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) for areas without Formosan termites and 0.28 pcf for areas with Formosan termites (typically coastal areas of Southern California, Texas and the Gulf States). Please note these standards are for pressure treating, which can only be done in a manufacturing setting. Just brushing or rolling on a borate-based coating will not provide the same level of protection. Also note that borates are only intended for interior use where the treated product will not be exposed to liquid water. Borate is water soluable and its protective qualities will be diminished with exposure to water.

[@leewatkins1610]

nothing YOU can sprinkle on,thats for sure..its all at the pressure trating vessel

[@bill4639]

Used motor oil can't be beat

[@northernspur6282]

I have been using it 50/50 mix with diesel, I’m hoping it holds up ? Probably no worse environmentally than store bought preservatives ?

[@bill4639]

@@northernspur6282 the copper additives of store bought stuff has it’s advantages for stopping bacterial growth. If you add some store bought stuff to used motor oil, you have the best of the best. Additionally, the store-bought stuff has drying agents in it. I have made this mix before and I can tell you from years of firsthand experience this mixture is the best of the best and when you wipe it off after you’ve coated it it dries just like linseed oil. Best stuff ever.

[@northernspur6282]

Thanks for the tips Bill..

[@WoodThatLasts]

Dipping wood in motor oil simply does not work to protect wood from insects and decay. Using motor oil only makes the wood more flammable and the odor makes it impractical to use.

[@leewatkins1610]

its simple....BUY GROUND CONTACT lumber..yellowpine is all we seem to get,A BADLY TWISTING WARPING product,,,,,,,but its all they offer..this is interesting but YOU CANT TREAT YOUR OWN LUMBER!!!

[@WoodThatLasts]

No, you cannot treat your own lumber, as it requires a pressure cylinder and preservatives that are restricted for use in industrial settings.

[@jeffery19677]

EPA shut down any real wood treatment. Soak it in diesel fuel for a few days.

[@WoodThatLasts]

Uh, no. Soaking wood in diesel provides little long-term protection against insects and decay fungi. There are many more preservatives available today vs. the past that are effective in protecting wood, proven by decades of use and experience.

[@smartchip]

Bring back creosote, crazy so called environmental nuts,

[@jrstrange123]

Scorching and 50/50 used motor oil and diesel fuel. Keep it simple.

[@WoodThatLasts]

Neither of those methods simply do not work to protect wood from insects and decay. Using motor oil only makes the wood more flammable and the odor makes it impractical to use.

[@jrstrange123]

@@WoodThatLasts yes it does