Replies

1. 
   houstondog | Aug 23, 2002 04:29am | #1

   you can.

   1. Cut down some tropical hardwood trees to do the framing.

   2. use a non-cca treated lumber that may or may not last 10 years with future work ahead.

   3. use treated wood and have a deck that doesn't ruin the rain forests and wont need replacement with more valuable wood.

   just my point of view

2. 
   jet | Aug 23, 2002 04:58am | #2

   If they are that stuck up about it, us the PT for the frame and use cedar for the deck and railings. Show them the price and they may decide to go with the PT.

3. 
   BillHartmann | Aug 23, 2002 06:50am | #3

   What is wrong with using PT?

   I suspect that you have a misinformed customer.

4. 
   PostnBeam | Aug 23, 2002 09:32am | #4

   CONCRETE if they are that worried about it. What's the prob. w/ P.T.? What's easiest for you? Is this livable space or a covered area? What are their concerns?

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/23/2002 2:35:58 AM ET by PostnBeam

5. 
   rjw | Aug 23, 2002 10:11am | #5

   Take a look at http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/cca_transition.htm

   cca (aka pressure treeated) is now considered the equivalent of Love Canal.  (Joking there, but there have been concerns raised with health effects, folks.  Must have been a good long vacation ....{G})

6. 
   Schelling | Aug 23, 2002 01:33pm | #6

   There are alternative preservatives to cca, though they may fall into the classification of pressure treated. One we have used has some type of ammonia salt. You will have to check with your suppliers. We will all be using these in a year.  There are rot resistant species which are available at a reasonable price if you get a lower grade of lumber. Given that your deck will be covered, you might consider framing the outside of the frame with a premium product, like vertical grain redwood and the inside with regular wood such as fir or spruce. I have seen many hundred year old porches that are in perfect shape except for the outside 4" of the deck and frame. Good luck.

1. 
   jet | Aug 23, 2002 03:33pm | #7

   It was found out that the handles on shopping carts can give you cancer. The reserchers fed 10,000 mice a handle a day. ONE developed cancer. Of course the other 9,999 mice died due to malnutrician But the stats say to beware of shopping carts.

       Give me a break, anything is dangerous if not used properly. Don't make a picnic table out of the stuff, but the frame of a deck?

   Why is the alphabet in that order? Is it because of the song?

    

      SEE Newf no purple

   Edited 8/23/2002 8:34:02 AM ET by weekendwarrior

1. 
   Stray | Aug 23, 2002 04:01pm | #8

   Some of our local mills (Northeast) are getting into black locust for landscape timbers etc.... Stuff last forever, and since people (right or wrong) are getting antsy about CCA, there is a growing market for it. I'm not sure of the structual properties of it, so you may want to check span tables.

   They'll obviously pay a premium over PT, but if that's what they want, give it to them. More material markup for you, happy customer, more referals. Start marketing your self as the "Eco-builder" and watch them line up....

2. 
   Newf | Aug 23, 2002 04:50pm | #9

   Cool!Newf                                 Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

   Carpenter, woodworker, gardener, Can't sew or cook

   http://www.quittintime.com/

1. 
   jet | Aug 23, 2002 06:44pm | #10

   Hey wai' a minu' jimmy!! Didn't you say that purple scares you? HA-HA :~0

7. 
   JohnSprung | Aug 23, 2002 08:12pm | #11

   I've had good results from Jasco's Termin-8, no rot or termites after ten years in contact with the ground.  It's a copper napthenate treatment.  If it's the arsenic in CCA they're worried about, they may go for that.  It does have a strong odor for the first couple weeks, sort of like paint thinner or kerosene, but with a touch of moth balls.  And it's a green stain.

   -- J.S.

1. 
   rickchem | Aug 23, 2002 09:12pm | #13

   In a framing application, exposure to CCA from the pressure treated wood will be minimal, but if the people are worried, give them what they want.  ALL residential application of CCA pressure treated would will be gone by the end of 2003, in case anyone did not know:

   http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/cca_transition.htm

   They are a few alternatives out there - besides naturally decay resistant woods such as redwood - many based on quaternary amonium copper salts (ACQ), or copper azole.  These alternatives will be the norm in a year or so. . .

1. 
   oldpro007 | Aug 23, 2002 10:20pm | #14

   The client probably does not want arsenic in her wood, she is likely not opposed to aresnic free "pressure treated" wood?  Your lack of ventalation almost cries out for treated wood. I've never used any exotic woods as mentioned above. Here in the south, NC, (hats off to Cloud Hidden) almost everything we do is treated. But not all with CCA.  I've used this product on several projects.

   http://www.chemspec.com/ 

   I can put you in touch with a chemist at the company if needed. I do know it does last. I have full confidence in it's long term durability.

   It is interesting, ProDeck said once (pretty sure), that he had never used a 5/4 treated deck board. That floored me. I've never seen in person, anything but treated decking and an occasional "fake" deck board. I'll bet he could tell you the best solution.

   This was supposed to be addressed to all; but the prospero thing...

   But, i do agree with the above poster; "Give the client what she wants!"

   Old arsnic free Pro,

   Edited 8/23/2002 3:27:53 PM ET by dad

8. 
   andybuildz | Aug 23, 2002 09:06pm | #12

   I read in FHB an issue or two ago that CCA was going to be banned in the next couple of years anyway due to the arsenic and formaldahyds leaching into the soil and groundwater. MAkes sense to me. There are PT lumbers that don't have the poisons in them. MAybe you could use an I-beam girder and recycled plastic joists...lol,,,,,hey....aint all that bad an idea

   Be well

            Namaste

                            Andy

   It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM