ACQ lumber experience

Two years ago I had more firewood than would fit under my shed so I bought 2 PT 4x4x8's from Lowes, laid them on the ground, stacked the firewood on them, and covered the wood with a tarp. I just used the last of the wood (all good BTW) and went to move the 4x4's. They were eaten up and rotted from the ground side up. Termite tunnels were readily apparent. Two years on the ground, not in it, and they were completely useless! They still had the tags stapled on the ends so the staples didn't even have time to rust off. I knew it wouldn't last as long as the old PT lumber, but not even 2 years??

Red

Reply to
Red
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On Dec 28, 3:05 pm, Red wrote: ...

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Pretty much in those circumstances, yes, not surprised. It's pretty much useless for insect infestation afaict, only slightly enhanced over untreated for wet.

Reply to
dpb

Apparently the change in pressure treating chemicals to less toxic materials might be the problem. Also may be a good idea to kill those termites before they start munching on your house ;)

Reply to
Frank

Is there a warrantee on that wood?

Reply to
Bob F

The house perimeter has been termite treated. The wood pile is 60' away from it.

My concern though is acq lumber used for fence posts and storage buildings where it is in contact with the ground.

Red

Reply to
Red

">>.. 2 PT 4x4x8's from Lowes, laid them on the ground, stacked the

Reply to
Rudy

Unless these jokers have changed that warranty, only with original receipt and those stupid little tags. Bet you never read the fine print! :)

So this guy is half way there.

Colbyt

Reply to
Colbyt

I've got old stuff, in the ground that has held up for over 30 years. It even survived a termite infestation where wood piles and stumps were being eaten but not my flights of steps in the back yard. Neighbors home was attacked and his treatment killed the nest(s).

I am somewhat familiar with the treatment chemicals and believe they eliminated the old arsenicals that are highly toxic in favor of less toxic copper or chlorinated organics. As others suggest, there may be different grades of new lumber and maybe none have the durability of the old treatments.

Frank

Reply to
Frank

This probably is the problem. They did not buy .40 ground contact lumber, and bought .25 for above ground.

Reply to
Scrubs

I've got a collection of those tags.

Reply to
Bob F

Yes they are, I just checked the labels. It says "ground contact ACQ .

40" Also states "lifetime limited warranty" but does not state what limits are meant by "limited". Even if they replace them, I don't know if I would trust using them again in a ground contact situation.

Red

Reply to
Red

Yes they are, I just checked the labels. It says "ground contact ACQ .

40" Also states "lifetime limited warranty" but does not state what limits are meant by "limited". Even if they replace them, I don't know if I would trust using them again in a ground contact situation. *****************************************************************

It doesn't sound like a really high risk usage. Let them replace them.

Reply to
Bob F

Thanks for the info. I have some PT wood left over from a fence job that I have on my patio.

I will move them since they may be a "termite attractant."

Andy

Reply to
WhiteTea

On Mon 29 Dec 2008 04:37:30a, WhiteTea told us...

That seems odd. Are there different types of pressure treated wood? Some years ago we had a raised bed built surrounding a patio using pressure treated 6x6's laid directly on the ground, stacked to create the depth, then filled with soil and planted. In 8 years of living there we never had any deterioration. The only change was a darkening of the wood.

Reply to
Wayne Boatwright

-snip-

Sure are. Even 20 yrs ago there was 'ok' PT and 'PT that wouldn't die'. I don't remember the spec differences, but I remmeber checking labels.

I don't remember when the new style PT started- 6-8yrs ago?- but it is apparently inferior to all the old stuff. [unless your goal is to eat hardware, which the new stuff does]

Jim

Reply to
Jim Elbrecht

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There was CCA Copper Chromium Arsenic, the new stuff eats metal fasteners except stainless and certain galvanised,

Reply to
ransley

There are different grades of wood, maybe it was not treated right, you have the lablel warranty and reciept? Your city architect or engineer, free to talk to, may know if better quality is out there that they use.

Reply to
ransley

I just had 250 linear feet of wood fence installed a year ago. The fence posts are 4x4 PT spaced every four feet. I poured 12"x12"x12" hole for concrete and the 4x4 sits 8" deep in it. It's hot and humid termite heaven Miami, I hope they will not rot away in 2 years I would be pisseddddddddd!

MC

Reply to
MiamiCuse

Sure. Some PT is rated for above ground, some for ground contact, some for direct burial. It depends on the amount of goop injected...more goop = more restance + higher price. The wood should be stamped or have a tag telling the percentage. The normal Home Depot type is as low a percentage as it gets.

Reply to
dadiOH

Pour a tad of diesel fuel around base of the posts, and brush a little at the base of the post.

Telephone poles have creosote for a reason :)

Reply to
Oren

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