pressure treated studs

[Frank]

purchased 6X6 pressure treated (Georgia/Pacific) 12 foot pine studs from Lowes. needed only 9 foot studs so I sawed off 3 feet to discover that pressure treatment only penetrated from 1/4 inch to 2 inches (depending on location). Is this normal? What are the expectations? If this is normal I don't want to press the issue.

This is second time this has happened (last time 2 years ago). Last time GP would do nothing about it, but Lowes made adequate compensation to me albeit it was G/P's fault.

Frank Milledgeville, GA

[gfretwell]

That is normal. Until you get up into the "salt water treated" levels the treating is skin deep. Most stuff in the "home" type stores is minimally treated. You need to go to a marine supplier to get the real stuff. That is usually overkill for any above ground use though. Just be sure to put the uncut end down.

[Don Phillipson]

Yes, this is normal for PT lumber -- which is marketed for outdoor use, not indoor (e.g. as wall studs.) Was it just price or did you have some reason to use outdoor lumber indoors?

[dpb]

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[DerbyDad03]

- Was it just price or did you have some reason to use outdoor lumber indoors?

Just curious - what in the OP's post makes you think he's using 6 x 6 PT lumber indoors?

[gfretwell]

In Florida it is code for the bottom plates on monoslab walls, window bucks and in some cases, furring. Moisture and bugs are the issue. I think there are some membrane solutions too but PT is usually an easier option. Back in the CCA days they rated PT lumber by the number of pounds of CCA you put in a cubic foot of lumber. This ranged fron 0.25 CCA for that green washed crap you got at the Home Depot up to 2.65 CCA for heavy duty marine construction. 0.40 was about the practical minimum for anything that will get wet and you want to be around a while. Now they are using a more environmentally friendly poison but the pounds per square foot rating is the same idea. I am just not sure what a good borate number is.

[terry]

And protect/shield the upper end if exposed to the elements?

[Al Bundy]

Frank wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Here's some more PT info you can get into:

[Craig M]

[Frank]

These are ACQ .. not borate. The number on the tag is .40. Looked that number up on great URL given in a previous post and it is ok for my usage, but IMO the penetration of the preservative was not satisfactory. Lowe's agreed and gave me adequate compensation.