Pressure Treated Lumber

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tipusnr

tipusnr

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Joined
May 15, 2004
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1,692
Location
Reynoldsburg, OH, USA.
A fellow turner and friend of mine came by the office today. We were talking about my plans to put a "riser" of pressure treated lumber under my metal storage shed so I can stand up in it without getting a headache and/or a new hairstyle.

He mentioned that the new lumber requires special fasteners as the chemicals in it eat metal screws and nails. Does anyone know the facts about this? I don't want to go through all the trouble to put in a spacer between the floor kit and the walls, requiring framing out and fabricating new doors if it's not going to last.

And before anyone suggests it - yes I'd love to just put up a bigger shed (maybe even a real workshop) but need the money to pay taxes and repair the house and driveway.
 
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Yes, pressure treated lumber uses a new porcelin coated screw now... they got rid of the arsenic in the pressure treat, so the new chemical requires a new fastener...

So just use the proper screws (no more expensive than regular ol' galvanized, at least not at my hardware store), and you'll have no problems!

Andrew
 
I am a home builder and have been dealing with this issue since everything first changed over. As you may know, all bottom plates that contact concrete (we use concrete slab on grade here) have to be treated lumber. At first we only had the ACQ treated lumber and it required using hot dipped galvanized nails for the bottom plate and then regular nails for the remainder of the framing since the hot dipped are WAY too expensive to use for the whole house. That was a real pain. After a while the local lumber yard started carrying borate treated 2x4s and almost everyone switched. Borate treated does NOT require any special fasteners and it will last just as long as ACQ lumber. I would suggest you either look for fasteners that say it is ok to use with ACQ lumber or use borate treated lumber and not worry about the fasteners. Just my 2 cents!
 
Thanks for the information. What is the chance that ACQ lumber will react with the metal rail at the base of my shed walls which will now sit on the top of it?
 
It most like will unless the rail is hot dipped galvanized. You could easily use a double layer of 30# felt between the two or something similar. Better yet, just use borate treated!
 
Just a follow-up. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find out the availability and price of treeated lumber on the internet around here. I tried Lowes, Home Depot, 86 Lumber, Carter Lumber, and Southerlands - all to no avail. At least Lowes told me that none of the stores around me carry it and Southerlands had a open space to send an inquiry directly to the store. Carter Lumber caught my frustration with a reply e-mail advising them to hire someone familiar with e-commerce to work on their website.

Two hours of internet searching and I still don't know where to get pressure treated lumber much less where to get borate treated lumber! I know it's here in Columbus - I have some of the old treatment assembled in my backyard!!
 
Just called my local Lowes, they carry pressure treated lumber in stock in all varieties. And I called Menards over in Marion and they carry it as well. You might be better to call then to check the Internet. I live in Mansfield, so your local stores should carry it too no matter what the websites say. Good luck!:D:D
 
Curtis,
Thanks for the information. I am also building a new shed and had some of the same questions.
 
Originally posted by tipusnr

Just a follow-up. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find out the availability and price of treeated lumber on the internet around here. I tried Lowes, Home Depot, 86 Lumber, Carter Lumber, and Southerlands - all to no avail. At least Lowes told me that none of the stores around me carry it and Southerlands had a open space to send an inquiry directly to the store. Carter Lumber caught my frustration with a reply e-mail advising them to hire someone familiar with e-commerce to work on their website.

Two hours of internet searching and I still don't know where to get pressure treated lumber much less where to get borate treated lumber! I know it's here in Columbus - I have some of the old treatment assembled in my backyard!!
Click to expand...
Lumber, treated or otherwise, is a commodity that can change in price very quickly. They rarely put pricing info on their websites due to this.
 
For the new non-CCA p.t. lumber, you need to use either hot-dipped galvanized screws/nails, deck-mate screws, or if you have the $$$ stainless steel fasteners. Here in FL, we only have the new PT lumber and I use the Deck-Mate brand screws. Seem to work well. Smaller projects like Cedar Benches that I do, I use Stainless Steel.

Just my .02.

Dave
 
The big orange box store-pro(?) desk told me today that their PTL does not contain arsenic and therefore does not need the coated nails or screws, but I am not believing them. I prefer to rely on what Curtis says as he is a PRO!!![8D]
 
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