Answers to Questions That Many Homeowners Have About Treated Pine

Construction & Contractors Blog

When you're ready to make your own outside deck or retaining wall, you may see that it's often recommended that you use treated pine as your lumber. This is a very affordable, commonly used type of lumber for these home projects, and treated pine is often readily available at any lumberyard or home improvement store. Before you buy the planks needed for any home projects, you might wonder why treated pine is so often used, if it's really the best choice for your project, and if you should always use it for every project around your home. Note a few answers to these and other such questions that many homeowners have about treated pine.

1. What is meant by "treated" pine?

Treated pine is different than plain pine boards and planks, as treated pine is covered with a type of solvent, sealant, or other such material, in order to protect it from decay, fungus, termites, and the like. A common treatment involves a copper, chrome, and arsenic combination; this may seem dangerous, but note that the arsenic is in very small amounts and that it's not harmful to humans as long as it's not ingested. There are also copper solvents that are used to treat pine, and these are more organic, are very safe, and also protect the wood against rot and other such damage.

2. Can you paint or stain treated pine?

The treatment used for pine isn't like a coat of paint that would interfere with another coat of paint or stain; instead, it permeates the pine, making it a poor host to pests, moisture, and the like. You can typically paint, stain, or otherwise coat treated pine just as you would any other type of timber you might choose for a home project.

3. Should treated pine be used for all home projects?

Treated pine is meant for use in projects where the wood will come into contact with moisture, pests, and other elements that may damage it or cause rotting; this would include its use for retaining walls, where the wood is in contact with the moisture of soil, and for an outside deck, where the pine might be more prone to being attacked by termites, ants, and the like. If you need pine boards for beams and studs for use behind new walls, for creating furniture projects, or for shelving inside your home, you may not need treated pine. Standard pine, which is usually cheaper than treated pine, may suffice for these home projects.

23 March 2016