How to identify old CCA wood?

[ericbx1500]

CCA is still available for certain uses.

Shvl73, I read somewhere that you are still able to sell any existing inventory of cca. But I’m pretty sure you are unable to special order it. If you where I would thing you need some sort of license to purchase.

 

[shvl73]

I am unaware of any license needed for ordering CCA timbers. Check out this site, http://www.escuewoodpreserving.com/index.htm

 

[HappyCPE]

OK, folks, I googled disposal of the stuff and its scaring me. Some people are saying that CCA treated wood leaches into groundwater and can be detected in soil below where the wood was. I have a colossal pile of this stuff. How can I tell what it is?

Oh, not to create confusion, but the stuff I have that I know for sure is CCA is greenish. The new ACQ posts the fence contractor put in is brownish. Is there some kind of dye that is used?

 

[Soundguy]

You can get arsenic test kits.

The CCA can have a greenish tint. however the new stuff is almost blue green.. and needs special fasteners to boot.. either stainless or double dipped zinc.. etc.

Yes.. arsenic can/will leach..

I'd find out what you got and how to dispose of it before some little person makes a big deal of it and the newspaper runs a story about your 'superfund' site... ( just kidding.. a little.. )

Soundguy

 

[Cowboyjg]

The new ACQ posts the fence contractor put in is brownish. Is there some kind of dye that is used?

That's because they are new. It's the moisture content in your new post that give it that brownish color. Give it a couple months and you will begin to see the change. In time they will take on the same coloration as the old post.

Happy, if what you have in your pile is all pretty much greenish grey, you have CCA treated wood. The odds are just, flat out, not in your favor that it is any thing else. Even if some of it's not, most of it probably is. If your pile is truly "Colossal" It's just not looking good on your having an easy way out. As far as the leeching is concerned. The Mere fact that the chemical has carsonogenic characteristics was enough to lead the authorities force the industry to make a change. There has been lengthy debate over the quality of the information from the testing that was done.

Bottom line.....No fire drill here but, you won't be happy with your disposal options.

 

[Cowboyjg]

however the new stuff is almost blue green.. and needs special fasteners to boot.. either stainless or double dipped zinc.. etc.

There are two types of pressure treated lumber available. One is for interior use...any wood to masonry connection that is not exposed to weather. This is the blueish green material. (Not all of it is bluish green either) It is treated with borate (and other stuff) and meets the water resistant/ insect resistant requirements without the cost of the other which is the same color basically as the old CCA treated material but designed for exposed conditions. This is the ACQ treated material. Most home centers do not carry the Borate treated lumber. Generally you can only find it at lumber yards.


Almost forgot.....The special fasteners are only required for the ACQ treated material. I remember when the lumber first came out. You had to special order every single clip and strap because the manufacturers weren't prepared.

(Edited)

 

[Soundguy]

Are you sure you meant to say CCA.. If you remember when it came out.. then you are remembering back to the 30's.. Are we not talking abou some of the new stuff that needs the special fasteners.. hangers.. etc.. from around 2003 or so..

Soundguy

 

[Cowboyjg]

Sorry I wasn't clearer....I remember when the ACQ lumber came out. In fact there were a series of seminars of sorts held by a few of the suppliers I used that I attended during the year preceeding the change over.

 

[jand38]

I wish you where close to Texas I would glady take off your hands I know the smoke is not healthy and trying to eat it may not work but how many people you can actually say had very bad experences with this prouduct just another item that people won the law suit lottery with. I do think that it would be wise not to let local people know about it because as others have mention you could find yourself on the local news maybe national news if it is a slow news week I wonder if we will ever live in a perfect world.

 

[GabeTX]

Shvl73, I read somewhere that you are still able to sell any existing inventory of cca. But I’m pretty sure you are unable to special order it. If you where I would thing you need some sort of license to purchase.

No license required.

Dealers of treated wood have voluntarily agreed to not sell the wood to people likely to use it for residential structures. It's still widely available, just not in Home Depot type places that sell mostly to homeowners and residential contractors.

I just put up 2400' of fence around my property on CCA-treated pine posts. The posts TSC sells are CCA treated.

And don't be worried about the leaching. The environmental dangers are grossly overstated by a vocal minority. There are some environmental issues, but they're minor, and not an immediate threat--that's why there's been a gradual, voluntary phase-out and there's been no mandate that existing CCA-treated wood be disposed of (even playground structures!).