Pressure Treated Wood. New Standards Create New Demand
As a homeowner or contractor, you’re probably familiar with treated and untreated wood. But did you know there are different grades of treated wood for different projects? Or that new standards require that Ground Contact UC4A treated wood be used in various applications?
Join us for a brief explanation, and find out how Sneade’s Ace Home Center can help with the wood you need for your latest project.
Which type of wood do you need for your project?
Depending upon your project, you’ll choose either softwoods or hardwoods. Since softwoods (from coniferous trees, i.e. pine, fir, cedar, and spruce) are cheaper and more plentiful, they’re most often selected for DIY projects. Because they’re soft, they’re frequently treated to fortify their stability.
Hardwoods on the other hand, (from deciduous trees, like mahogany, oak, cherry, walnut, or hickory), take longer to grow. These trees are dense, making them useful for projects in fine woodworking, flooring, and cabinetry. While some projects can use untreated wood (i.e. projects inside the home), others use treated wood primarily outdoors, designated by label for above ground use, use in salt water, in-the-ground use, or otherwise.
Why would someone need Ground Contact UC4A Treated Wood?
In 2015, the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) introduced a new standard to the International Residential Code. This new standard required that Ground Contact UC4A treated wood be used in projects where:
- The wood touches the soil
- Its exposed to excess moisture
- It Comes into contact with fresh water
This precautionary requirement protects wood when exposed to decay fungi, termites, boring beetles, and other sources to keep it from rotting. Wood components of projects considered critical to the safety of the structure, or difficult to replace, will also typically require Ground Contact UC4A.
Some of these projects include:
- Fence posts
- Deck posts
- Structural lumber
- Timbers
- Guardrail posts
Sneade’s keeps it simple by providing the highest quality across the board
Many stores offer a choice of treated, untreated, and Ground Contact UC4A woods in various dimensions. This might be confusing for you when you’re selecting quality lumber for your project. But at Sneade’s Ace Home Center, where we continue to strive toward providing the best experience for customers — we keep it simple!
ALL of our treated wood in ALL sizes now meet this new standard and will be Ground Contact UC4A treated lumber, making it appropriate for any treated wood project you’re starting. And, if that’s not enough, we’ve also upgraded our 2×4 and 2×6 lumber to #1 PRIME, meaning they’re stronger than other grades, with fewer and smaller holes, splits, and knots, preserving both the strength and appearance of the board for optimal quality.
The finest lumber, conveniently available by delivery or drive-through at both locations
Sneade’s is proud to provide its customers with the finest lumber from Madison Wood Preservers based out of Madison, VA. Pressed for time? Why not take advantage of our Drive-Through Lumber Center at both of our locations — and don’t forget that Sneade’s also delivers! Call ahead for delivery options at our Owings location: 410-257-2963, or our Lusby location: 410-326-3222 today.
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