Wood is a plentiful and economical building material that comes from a renewable source. However, untreated wood is subject to attack by insects and microorganisms and to decay caused by fungi. To ensure structural soundness and long service life, wood must be protected from its natural predators. This is especially important in hot and humid climates or wherever wood comes into contact with the ground or water. In short, treated wood provides users a longer-lasting product by extending the service life and the useful life of indoor and outdoor structures.
Treated wood extends forest resources by prolonging the service life of wood products.
Pressure treatment protects wood products against decay and infestation, and extends its life. Through the use of preservatives in pressure-treated lumber for fences, porches, decks, and homes, we have saved a forest of trees two times the size of New England. The Southern Forest Products Association has estimated that pressure treatment conserves nearly 6.5 billion board feet of wood each year in the United States alone. That's the equivalent of 435,000 new houses, or 226,000,000 trees. Pressure treatment is a process that forces chemical preservatives deep into the cellular structure of the wood in a closed cylinder under pressure.