I am in the process of demolishing an old chicken coop. All of the wood has by now fully greyed, and none of it appears to have greenish tinge to it. Some of it was clearly hardwood (judging by the smell when cut, and by a red color inside, probably red oak) but some was pine. There were no apparent green colors inside the wood, but I still would like to be sure. BTW I am aware of the "send a swab to the lab for Arsenic testing" option. I am hoping there are easier ways of telling.
How to identify old pressure treated lumber?
Sep 18, 2006
3 Replies
Burn a small peice of it, if there are any chemicals left in it you should see some odd color flames.
You can also buy simple DIY test kits. Much cheaper.
If you clean or sand the surface to remove all of the dirt and stains it should be much easier to identify. Don't inhale the sanding dust. Wear a mask while cleaning it. A pressure washer is an easy way to do this.
Join the Discussion
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Didn't find your answer?
Ask the community — no account required