Fence posts and CCA

SteveBenson · May 23, 2003

>Ask this question. If CCA is SOOOOOO bad why has the
EPA NOT recommended or ordered the removal of all exposed CCA treated wood?

It's just a matter of time? CCA is the next abspestos. I agree, it's a load of huey. But these decisions are not generally rational.

gws · May 23, 2003

All the radon testing people needed somthing new to test because people figured out that was BS... So CCA, Yea, if you worked in a manufacturing plant and spent most of your life there you might get poisended. If your built decks for a living you might have an issue. The average Joe doesnt have an issue. CCA has been around for a long time for children playgrounds, decks, fence post.

turnkey4099 · May 27, 2003

re Cedar posts lasting only 10 years (or 6). My experience with both cedar and cca 4x4 is the same. If you get 10 years out of either one you are lucky.

Harry K

Anonymous Poster · May 27, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My experience with both cedar and cca 4x4 is the same. If you get 10 years out of either one you are lucky )</font>

What CCA treatment level did those posts have? I've seen as low as .25 sold in box stores, which isn't rated for ground contact. For a while in Florida, Lowes and HD were selling PT lumber for exactly the same price. Trouble was, the Lowes PT was .40, while the HD stuff was only .25.

It pays to check and see what you are getting--or how bad you are getting had. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SnowRidge

turnkey4099 · May 29, 2003

I did (and do) check. I have used them at various times over the years and buy them at a -real- lumber yard. All were ground rated. My lates ones were the fence arount my dish antenna. rotted at ground level in ca 10 years (not sure exactly. Of course the usual 4x4 post are -not- made of the greatest grade of wood.

Harry K

Anonymous Poster · May 29, 2003

If you are near saltwater, you might be able to find PT with much higher retention ratings. I used to buy PT with a 2.5 rating. The yard that I bought it from specialized in lumber for saltwater applications, and I think the lowest rating they carried was .60.

Interestingly, most of their stuff wasn't dimensional either. When you bought a 2x10, you got lumber that really was 2 inches by 10 inches. Of course, it all cost quite a bit more than the stuff at the 'Borg.'

By the way, it all came from a supplier in Georgia--and was for 'Professional Use Only." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SnowRidge

mikim · May 29, 2003

I've got cedar posts in Bastrop that I cut and skinned myself that I planted 18 years ago and they're still there -- They're showing age - but they're still doing the job. I think skinning the bark off is key.