Why Treated Wood?
Or, would it be better to ask, Why Not Treated Wood?
Brought to you by Lonza Wood Protection
Please stop by Booth 754 (Escue Wood Preserving) and Booth 517 (United Treating and Distribution) at DeckExpo to learn more about building with beautiful, real wood.
Why Wood?
Wood products are everywhere. And it’s no wonder. Wood is, after all, nature’s sustainable building block that comes from an abundant natural resource easily and quickly replenished. It has excellent workability in all aspects of construction and, when preserved and used properly, can be designed to create outdoor living spaces that bring the inside out.
Wood is a sustainable product that is responsibly sourced from managed forest lands. That means trees used in the building industry come from forests grown as crops – much like corn or soy is grown. They are harvested. The land is left to rest for a few months. Then it is replanted at the rate of 400 trees per acre. The forest is maintained and cared for 30+ years before it is harvested. Managed forest lands are in different stages of growth so that not all the forest is harvested at one time. Between forests, sawmills, and product manufacturers, every part of the tree is used for everything from poles, piling and dimensional lumber to pulp for paper mills, bedding for animals, and mulch for gardens.
Why Treated Wood?
When lumber goes through the treatment process, it is enhanced with preservative that helps it last longer while maintaining its natural beauty. Used for more than 100 years, treated wood makes the ideal building material for backyard projects. Because of its ease of use, do-it-yourselfers across the country have picked up a hammer, drill, nails and screws to complete weekend projects like decks, picnic tables, raised bed planters, retaining walls and more.
For more complicated projects, contractors and builders also choose treated wood because it looks beautiful, is affordable, and is easy to work with and maintain. In fact, its natural beauty enriches the backyard landscape making it an easy sell to homeowners.
Maintaining Treated Wood.
Maintenance on decks and other backyard projects can be likened to maintenance on a car. Oil changes are necessary and should be done regularly. Similarly, homeowners can easily and inexpensively perform maintenance on their decks. Recommendations include cleaning and applying a surface water repellent every couple of years to keep the deck looking beautiful for years.
If left alone, wood weathers to a warm gray, giving a project the time-worn look that is in demand with many homeowners. However, for projects to maintain that just-bought appearance, staining every few years is recommended. And, unlike composites, if lumber gets scratched by everyday use it can be easily repaired by sanding and staining.
Use Treated Wood.
Treated wood is a naturally beautiful building material that is easy to use and manipulate by contractors and do-it-yourselfers alike. Once a project is built, with little future maintenance, the homeowner can enjoy an enhanced quality of outdoor living for years.
