Treated Or Untreated Wood For Attic

Steps such as sealing painting or using other bonding agents increase the life of untreated wood.

Treated or untreated wood for attic.

These chemicals add all sorts of protection for the wood but they come at a cost. I was wondering if it was allowed to be used in an attic. Moisture is especially hard on wood. The major difference between treated and untreated wood is that treated wood is steeped in chemicals.

Reputable manufacturers offer warranties of 15 to 30 years against rot decay and insect attack. As wood is exposed to the natural elements it slowly breaks down. Treating wood with a water seal helps it repel moisture blocks harmful insects and keeps the wood looking its best. When used indoors there is little possibility of chemicals leaching or releasing toxins into the air because houses are typically dry environments.

If you are interested in attempting to use pressure treated lumber indoors these types might be worth considering. This is why non pressure treated wood is still required for use indoors and why builders recommended that you only use pressure treated lumber for the support structure of a deck and switch to untreated wood for the surface. You can use pressure treated wood but it s more expensive than untreated wood. Untreated wood is vulnerable to moisture as well as insect pests such as termites.

Treated wood was designed to defy the effects of natural aging. You can find treated lumber plywood lap siding and even specialty items like lattice and pre cut stair parts. Sometimes hemlock western pine and spruce are treated with borate but douglas fir and yellow pine are the most common. Wooden steps and patios located outdoors can quickly absorb rainwater and snow causing the wood to warp erode and eventually rot.

In most instances untreated wood will work just as well is much safer and will look nicer too. You can safely use treated wood for indoor furniture but only under certain circumstances. Yellow pine and douglas fir are the types of wood treated with borate. Pressure treated wood in attic while performing an inspection on a home built in 2004 i noticed that several 2 x 4s were pressure treated wood.

What s the major difference. Treated wood used to have arsenic in it as an insect repellent but the newer wood is all environmentally friendly. Any location where pets and kids spend time regularly should be built with non treated wood. The cost is that many chemicals for wood treatment are not necessarily safe for people and pets.

Treated wood also known as pressure treated wood or pt is widely available to consumers for home and garden projects. If treated wood can last much longer than normal but to make sure your treated lumber lasts as long as possible you need to match its treatment level with the right use. Although there are health hazards to consider treated wood does have its advantages.