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Re: GBlist: Dangers of CCA Pressure Treated Wood



If you know of a supplier or manufacturer who is offering plastic wood
cheaper than real wood I would (hee, hee) like to know about them please.

I would like to build a front entrance fence with this material. 
Everything I have priced so far exceeds the price of real wood.

The only concern I have about this material is how well it will do when
exposed to weather extremes.  In particular, months of sunlight at
temperatures above 90 F.  We have seen plastic in automobiles break down
and turn to dust.  There are indications that ABS and high impact plastic
will perform better but it takes time (years) to prove this.

Funny thing about Mother Nature, she's slow.



On Thu, 12 Jun 1997 08:21:02 -0600 ejh@idcomm.com (Edward J Hartnett)
writes:
>I agree with you concerning avoiding situations where wood comes in 
>contact
>with the ground.
>
>There are some good reasons for decks though! For example, the mud 
>where
>I'm living now (and also on the land I bought) is enough to keep you
>inside, except we have a deck.
>
>I also like decks because here in Colorado (and in most other parts of 
>the
>USA) you can use the outdoors as part of your home for much of the 
>year.
>I'd rather have a deck with a gas grill and some chairs, then a bigger
>house and no deck. The deck provides great space for parties and just
>sitting around.
>
>What I am looking at is this plastic wood (i.e. made from 
>post-consumer
>plastic and wood chips). It can be cut and screwed like wood, but 
>doesn't
>need any finishing and is of course completely water-proof and termite
>resistant. Looks pretty much just like wood from about 6 feet away. 
>Last I
>heard it costs $1.30 a linear foot for a 2x4. This is about ten cents 
>per
>foot cheaper than redwood and realistically it will last longer.
>
>Any comments? Anyone out there using this?
>
>I have two concerns:
>
>1 - What happens when it burns? Toxic fumes?
>
>2 - There's probably no way to ever get rid of the stuff.
>
>----------
>> From: John Salmen <terrain@seaside.net>
>> I guess my basic opinion on the whole question of wood preservatives 
>is
>> one of avoidance in other words that the only wood that should be 
>near
>> the ground or in a moist situation should have its roots intact. I 
>can't
>> think of any building application that should require the use of
>> pressure treated wood to maintain integrity - there is always a 
>design
>> alternative and that alternative shouldn't consist of finding an
>> environmentally appropriate way of making wood decay resistant. 
>> 
>> I'm not a fan of uncovered decks (I always thought them expressive 
>of
>> some fear of being close to the ground) but a wooden deck properly 
>built
>> using heartwood planks oriented properly and UNFINISHED should 
>outlast
>> its purpose.
>> 
>> John
>> 
>> TBren46501@aol.com wrote:
>> > 
>> > In a message dated 6/9/97 3:55:34 PM, crkoehn@mailbag.com (Chris &
>> > Ruth
>> > Koehn) wrote:
>> > 
>> > <<We've been considering using some of the  native and naturally 
>rot
>> > resistant wood species in place of cca treated wood.  My forestry
>> > connections suggest that walnut, certain species of locust, red 
>cedar,
>> > and katalpa are all very rot resistent- in some circumstances as 
>much
>> > so
>> > as cca treated wood (my father in law used locust for fence posts 
>on
>> > his
>> > farm, which have been in ground contact for 50 years and still 
>look
>> > good). In many instances logs can be had for the trouble of 
>removal
>> > here
>> > in Wisconsin. Most of these trees are extremely invasive, and
>> > considered
>> > "weeds" by farmers and woodlot owners.
>> > 
>> > Any experiences with these materials? I know it's a hassle cutting 
>and
>> > sawing and drying.
>> > 
>> > How about using this ACQ preserve stuff? Anybody tried it?
>> > 
>> > Chris Koehn
>> > Top Ridge Homes>>
>> > 
>> > Hi Chris,
>> > 
>> > Yep.  My experience with white locust, arborvitae, red cedar, 
>redwood
>> > and
>> > cypress is that they are extremely well protected from fungal
>> > breakdown and
>> > insect infestation.  I'd like to see programs that grow, 
>transport,
>> > machine,
>> > transport and eventually dispose of them managed in ways that 
>minimize
>> > impact.  Here's my "yesbuts".  None of these trees are weeds. I 
>don't
>> > know if
>> > any of them are being managed as a renewable resource.  I'd like 
>to
>> > hear from
>> > the eco-foresters on that one.  Last I knew, cypress was a species 
>at
>> > risk
>> > (too bad cause it lasts the best).  Working these woods without
>> > respiratory
>> > protection will expose you to the natural toxins present in every 
>one
>> > of
>> > them.  My old partner and I ended up at the emergency room with 
>toxic
>> > shock
>> > after three days of working with black walnut.  Lastly, locust is 
>damn
>> > bear
>> > to saw, plane or sand - a tool eater.  - Terry
>> > __________________________________________________________________
>> > This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by Oikos (www.oikos.com)
>> > and Environmental Building News (www.ebuild.com). For instructions
>> > send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
>> > __________________________________________________________________
>> __________________________________________________________________
>> This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by Oikos (www.oikos.com)
>> and Environmental Building News (www.ebuild.com). For instructions
>> send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
>> __________________________________________________________________
>__________________________________________________________________
>This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by Oikos (www.oikos.com)
>and Environmental Building News (www.ebuild.com). For instructions
>send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
>__________________________________________________________________
>
__________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by Oikos (www.oikos.com)
and Environmental Building News (www.ebuild.com). For instructions
send e-mail to greenbuilding-request@crest.org.
__________________________________________________________________


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