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ProWood ACQ Pressure-Treated Lumber FAQ
Lumber’s greatest enemy is biological attack — destruction by termites, fungi, marine borers and bacteria. After more than a half century of scientific tests and practical experience with various treating chemicals, there is a variety of weapons that have been formulated to protect wood against termites, rot and decay.
How long will treated wood last?
What ingredients make up ProWood ACQ?
Is special handling required?
How safe is ProWood ACQ treated wood?
Can ProWood ACQ treated wood be used indoors?
Why can treated wood be used for a picnic table and not a countertop?
Can ProWood ACQ treated wood be used in gardening?
Can all tree species be treated?
What is the significance of the tags stapled to the lumber?
What does “PCF Treatment” mean?
Any fastener recommendations when building with ProWood ACQ?
After my project is built, is any special maintenance necessary?
What else should I know about treated wood?
I cut the end off of my ProWood ACQ treated wood and it looks like it isn't treated in the middle. Do I have a bad piece of treated wood?
How long will treated wood last?
Our products have a proven track record. From CCA, (Chromated Copper Arsenate) which was used reliably for decades, to the industry standard, ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) which is used extensively today to the new Micro products, Universal Forest Products will continue its commitment to providing the right product for the right use. For example, our deck products carry our Lifetime Limited Warranty.
What ingredients make up ProWood ACQ?
ProWood ACQ is a waterborne preservative that is copper-based. The copper and quaternary compounds together provide protection from a broad spectrum of fungi and termites, preventing rot and decay.
Is special handling required?
Although termites, fungus and destructive micro-organisms detest treating chemicals, in pressure-treated wood it’s clean, emits NO fumes and is non-irritating.
The Safe Handling Information Sheet outlines specific handling tips for ProWood ACQ treated wood.
An important precaution is DO NOT BURN TREATED WOOD. Burning treated wood releases the chemical bond with wood cells, so dispose of scraps and sawdust with your landfill trash. Wear gloves when handling treated lumber. And always wear safety glasses and a dust mask when sawing or cutting treated lumber just as you would with untreated lumber.
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How safe is ProWood ACQ treated wood?
Very safe when used as directed. The preservative injected into lumber reacts with the wood substance to form an insoluble complex. It won’t evaporate or vaporize. Treated wood is clean, odorless, non-staining, and safe to work with and handle. Its locked-in protection is non-irritating to children, adults, animals and plants.
The minute amounts of preservative released over time due to wear off of the product or water contact have been carefully studied. The conclusion is clear: it is safe for the environment and safe for people and pets.
Can ProWood ACQ treated wood be used indoors?
ProWood ACQ Treated wood may be used indoors for any application except cutting boards and countertops. (This is not true for all types of treated wood.)
Why can treated wood be used for a picnic table and not a countertop?
Simply because picnic tables are primarily used for serving prepared food while a kitchen countertop is used primarily as a cutting surface for raw food.
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Can ProWood ACQ treated wood be used in gardening?
Yes. Treated wood can be used to construct raised vegetable gardens and flowerbeds. Previously, CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) had been used as a reliable wood preservative. More recently, treated wood manufacturers, including UFP, have made a transition to newer preservatives, including ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary.) Several studies have shown that plants grown in CCA raised beds do not contain higher than normal levels of the preservative chemicals. We believe the same is true for ACQ raised beds. In addition, the components of ACQ are known to be non-carcinogenic.
Can all tree species be treated?
Three species of pine — southern yellow, ponderosa and red — are most open to treating. Some softwoods — spruces, hem/fir, larches, Douglas fir — benefit from incising (cutting small slits across the grain) to aid chemical penetration and treatment retention. Most hardwoods are too dense and complex to be treatable.
What is the significance of the tags stapled to the lumber?
Universal Forest Products places end tags on all of its pressure-treated products to ensure that our customers know key information about the product such as the type of warranty, whether it is for use in direct ground contact or only above ground applications, and where applicable, information needed for acceptance by local building codes. Many of these tags on our treated wood products even have detailed information on the safe handling of our pressure-treated products, the same information contained in the Safe Handling Information Sheet.
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Any fastener recommendations when building with ProWood ACQ?
Fastener and hardware manufacturers have suggested higher levels of protection should be used with ACQ and Copper Azole treated wood compared to CCA treated wood. Hot-Dip Galvanized requirements for use with treated wood should conform to the following ASTM Standards: ASTM-A153 (for Hot-Dip fastener products) and ASTM-A653 (Coating Designation G-185 for Hot-Dip connector and sheet products). View the ACQ Fastener Information Sheet for more information.
After my project is built, is any special maintenance necessary?
Left unfinished, treated wood ages gracefully, eventually softening to an attractive driftwood gray. On flat surfaces such as decks, however, leaves and other debris may collect and create unsightly stains. Even if your lumber has the locked-in protection of factory applied water repellent, you'll want to follow an annual maintenance program that includes a semi-transparent stain of a sealant which contains an ultraviolet stabilizer. If you stain your project, a quality penetrating latex or oil base stain is recommended.
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What else should I know about treated wood?
Decades of research and testing have gone into its development, and we certainly haven’t answered every question about it. However, a full line of free literature is available to you through your building materials dealer. By using ProWood ACQ treated lumber products instead of other materials like plastic or steel, you are aiding in the fight against global warming. Less energy is being used, therefore less greenhouse gas is being emitted into the air. Finally, you should be aware of this: lengthening a wood structure’s life through pressure treatment lowers the pressure on our planet’s exhaustible mineral and energy resources. 226,000,000 trees are saved every year by pressure treatment. Treated lumber makes one tree last as long as many untreated trees. Use pressure-treated wood with confidence in its everlasting quality and safety. You’ll be protecting our environment’s major renewable building material.
I cut the end off of my ProWood ACQ treated wood, and it looks like it isn't treated in the middle. Do I have a bad piece of treated wood?
No. Universal Forest Products looks to the American Wood Preservers' Association ("AWPA") for defining quality treatment for our ProWood ACQ pressure treated wood products. Even products treated in strict conformance with AWPA standards can have some wood which appears "untreated" if the wood is end-cut after treatment. Most commonly, this is heartwood which is naturally decay resistant. This is not an indication that the wood was not properly treated, and you do not need to be concerned. With the exception of some Western species, these end-cuts do not require any special treatment. Refer to the ProWood ACQ Warranty for details.
Brush-on Preservatives for Field Cuts
According to American Wood Preservers' Standard M4-02, lumber and timber which are used in above ground applications and are of sapwood species such as southern, red or ponderosa pine, generally do not require treatment to provide a good service life. This category includes the majority of the treated products Universal Forest Products provides. Other heartwood species, typically found in the Western US, should be field treated when cut or drilled. If you are concerned about wood exposed due to cutting or drilling, you can use a brush-applied preservative.
Home centers and lumberyards often carry brush-applied preservative systems based on two different active chemicals: either copper naphthenate or IPBC (3-iodo 2-propynyl butyl carbamate). These systems should be applied, in accordance with their labels, to any surface exposed by damage or field fabrication. Users should carefully read and follow the instructions and precautions listed on the preservative system label when using them.
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