Is Pressure Treated Wood From Home Depot Safe For Vegetable Gardens

Asked by: Jhosua Pechatnov

asked in category: General Last Updated: 16th April, 2020

Is Home Depot pressure treated lumber safe?

Product Overview

Responsibly manufactured from renewable southern yellow pine, this lumber is both safe and environmentally friendly when used as directed in appropriate applications. Treated wood is typically still wet when it's delivered to The Home Depot or job site.

Until 2003, the preservative most commonly used in residential pressure-treated lumber was chromated copper arsenate (CCA), an extremely toxic chemical. CCA is so toxic that the Environmental Protection Agency, over 20 years ago, imposed strict guidelines regarding the manufacturing practices of companies using CCA.

Beside above, does pressure treated lumber contain arsenic? Most pressure-treated lumber no longer contains arsenic. For many years, the only real choice of pressure-treated lumber was wood treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). As the name would seem to indicate, it did contain arsenic, which leached into the soil and could contaminate the plants in your garden.

Beside above, what is the life expectancy of pressure treated wood?

40 years

Where can pressure treated wood be used?

Other uses for treated wood include raised garden beds, stair stringers, wooden swing sets, pergolas and arbors. Pressure-treated wood should not be used for any indoor applications. You can paint or stain treated lumber for decks or any structure but it is important that the wood be dry enough to accept a coating.

37 Related Question Answers Found

Why shouldn't you burn pressure treated wood?

Why Pressure-Treated Wood Is NOT Safe to Burn! When burned, pressure-treated wood releases a cocktail of harmful chemicals and pollutants into the air, some of which will inevitably end up in your lungs. One of the most common types of pressure-treated wood is chromated copper arsenate (CCA).

Can pressure treated wood Cause Cancer?

Most pressure-treated lumber sold before January 2004 was treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA for short), which contains arsenic. Swallowing arsenic is known to cause cancer in humans. The arsenic was used as a pesticide to keep the wood from being consumed by termites and other wood-eating organisms.

How bad is treated wood?

Treated wood risks While wood treatment products are designed to bind to the wood, small amounts of the chemicals can slowly leach out of the wood. Over time, or from damage, small amounts of treated wood chemicals may escape as wood dust or splinters from the surface of the wood.

Can you burn 20 year old treated wood?

Wood that has been pressure-treated with CCA should never be burned. Burning wood treated with CCA results in both smoke and ash containing a wide variety of arsenic-bearing compounds, pretty much all of which are detrimental to health.

What happens if you don't use pressure treated wood?

Untreated wood becoming wet can be the first problem. This is going to cause the wood to decay, rot, and grow fungus over time. Wet conditions make for a nice breeding ground on untreated wood being used outdoors.

Is it OK to use pressure treated wood in a vegetable garden?

Yes, the "new" pressure treated wood is safe for use for raised garden frames with a few precautions! Up until 2003, the most common preservative used for pressure treated wood was chromated copper arsenate (CCA), a compound using arsenic as its primary rot protectant.

Do you need to seal pressure treated wood?

However, most pressure-treated wood should have periodic sealing against moisture, preferably every year or so. However, most of the water-repellent sealers sold at home centers, paint stores and lumber yards are suitable for pressure-treated wood as well as other outdoor woods such as cedar and redwood.

How long will pressure treated lumber last in the ground?

The Forest Products Laboratory and other research groups have shown that treated wood stakes placed in the ground for more than 40 years remain rot-free. But young pressure-treated decks, many less than 10 years old, are being shoveled into landfills.

Do termites eat pressure treated wood?

Pressure-treated wood is resistant to termites, but make sure that there's no contact with soil. Pressure-treated wood is wood that has had a chemical preservative forced into the pores to form a barrier that resists decay and wood-eating insects like termites and carpenter ants.

Which is better cedar or pressure treated wood?

As a general rule, cedar will remain in good condition and require less maintenance than pine if installed above the ground. Pressure-treated pine is less likely to decay if planted in soil, so the posts often last longer.

What are the benefits of pressure treated wood?

Advantages of Pressure-Treated Wood Decks Affordability. Pressure-treated wood is notably cheaper than cedar, redwood, and other types of wood. Versatility. Durability. Ease of repair. Insect repellency. Natural. Splinters and checking. Fading.

What is #1 pressure treated lumber?

#1 lumber grade is to be used when both strength and appearance are important. This product is #1 lumber grade meaning the boards contain small and few knots within the board. The strength of #1 grade lumber is the best you can get on the market.