Know Your Wood Pressure Treated Timber
Post on 25th December 2019
Know Your Wood Part 3 – Pressure Treated Timber
Our Canadian Western Red Cedar and Siberian Larch ranges are super popular and can have a dramatic effect on any garden or space instantly, but lets not forget about Pressure Treated Timber. The Cedar fencing and Larch fencing continues to win our customers over because we go through a clear process of what qualities the woods need to have before we will consider them.
Its exactly the same with our Pressure Treated Timber. There are various factors to consider when we choose which Pressure Treated Timber to stock, from the original quality of the wood, through to which chemicals are used in them. As an environmentally conscientious company, sustainability and being eco-friendly are important aspects of the products we eventually select, so we like to know exactly which chemicals were dealing with.
Weve already shared the benefits of Red Cedar and Siberian Larch in our Know Your Wood guides, so heres some insight on why Pressure Treated Timber Fencing could be a perfect addition to your gardens or projects…
What is Pressure Treated Timber?
Lets start with the obvious question first&
We all know that many types of wood need protection against the elements. Being continually exposed to the rain, heat, varying temperatures, as well as the ground, would rot or weaken untreated wood.
Pressure Treated Timber, also known as tanalised timber, combats all of that in a way that is more than a lick of protective treatment.
Pressure Treated Timber has been placed in a vacuum cylinder and put under extreme pressure to force the protective chemical preservatives right down into the wood. Whilst in the cylinder, all of the air is sucked out of the wood to ensure it is completely dried out.
The timber is then flooded with the protective preservatives to fill the voids left by the air being extracted. If done properly, this will strengthen the wood too, so this is all done very precisely by computer. This guarantees that the preservatives are deeply infused into the wood, as opposed to a coating which erodes away with prolonged exposure outside. Once dry, the wood is given a top coat too for additional protection and an even tone for aesthetic purposes.
The nature of this process means that Pressure Treated Timber offers additional benefits that untreated timber doesnt…
Pressure Treated Timber Is Stronger
Because of the extensive process, the wood has gone through, Pressure Treated Timber can withstand more force than untreated timber. It is also protected against the elements immediately and for longer, so doesnt soften like some wood products do and wont be as prone to damage. When youre busy, you dont exactly stand over your fencing monitoring its decline, so knowing it is structurally stronger for longer gives you peace of mind that its doing its job.
Pressure Treated Timber Is Long Lasting
If you were to stand outside, day in day out for just a week, youd get a good idea of what a fence needs to withstand.
The combo of wind and rain alone is a powerful erosion process…
Add temperatures changing from freezing too hot across a year…
Consider debris being blown against it in storms…
Maybe physical dangers need to be borne in mind too if it is located in a high footfall area… Then think of the rot dangers if the wood is in contact with the ground as damp wood is the perfect breeding ground for mould…
And if all of that isnt enough, you then have bugs and parasites wanting to feast on your lovely handywork.
Having the treatment infused throughout the wood protects against all of that at its core, rather than a couple of layers of treatment needing to provide all of that protection. Pressure Treated Timber can to last for many years because of the strength and resistance the treatment process provides.
Pressure Treated Timber Is A More Environmental Option
One of the key considerations for our team was the chemicals being used to treat the timber. A few decades ago, timber was impregnated with chromated copper arsenate (known as CCA) and was considered a revolutionary product at the time. Offering the potential of longer lifespans than the popular rot-resistant species like redwood, it became popular and was used extensively.
It wasnt too long before the harmful effects of the chemicals became known, when the CCA chemicals were seeping from the wood into the soil around it and damaging plants and wildlife.
Fast forward to today, and all chemicals used are much safer! There are also other benefits to the environment such as protecting your timber being more sustainable where deforestation is concerned as the need for more timber is reduced.
Pressure Treated Timber Is Low-Maintenance
This one has been covered already, but as weve already mentioned, Pressure Treated Timber repels pests, parasites, termites, bugs – you name it, they wont like the taste of it!
It is also impervious to water, which will obviously hinder the damage that rot and water can do. All of this protection is already within the wood meaning far less maintenance for you, so its literally a case of installing your timber and youre good to go!
Pressure Treated Timber Is More Economical
You can still achieve a modern & contemporary slatted look, using Pressure Treated Timber, which is lower cost alternative to Red Cedar and Siberian Larch. This is a huge asset if budget is a prime factor in your selection process, especially where larger installations are concerned.
You will still have the benefits youd have with Red Cedar and Siberian Larch, but at a lower cost. Should you wish to stain, or add a colour to your panels, then Pressure treated timber would be the ideal choice.
If youd like to know more about how our Pressure Treated Timber could be a fit for your next project, our team has years of experience where we can help you explore all of the factors your project may need to include. Simply get in touch here and well be more than happy to help.