Frequently Asked Questions

UTD: FAQs

Yes. All year long. We’re happy to meet the immediate demands of your business and will ship partial orders straight to your business. We mix treated and untreated truck loads all day.
Yes. Give us 30 minutes notice and we will have some coffee waiting for you along with the full tour. Give us even more notice and we’ll invite you to one of our customer deer and duck hunts.

FAQs for Partner Products

FAQs Direct from MoistureShield
More Information Direct from Owens Corning®
FAQs Direct from Century Aluminum Railings

Wolmanized FAQs

Simply by reading the end tag on each piece of lumber, the end user will be able to determine if a product is approved for use in “above ground” or “ground contact” applications.

Ground contact means that the product is approved for use in applications that require the component to be either placed on or directly in the ground (fence or deck posts; landscaping). Ground contact also applies to products used in above-ground applications when the components are subject to hazards comparable to ground contact or are used in applications that are difficult to maintain, repair or replace and are critical to the performance and safety of the structure (deck joists, beams, ledger boards, etc.)

Perform the following test to determine if your project is ready to paint or stain: Place a few drops of water on the area to be coated. If it beads up, it is too wet to coat, and you’ll need to wait. If it absorbs the water readily, it is ready to coat. If you want to paint your project, use an oil-based primer and a high-quality acrylic (latex) paint. If you want a stained look, a high-quality stain is recommended. Always check with the manufacturer before applying and follow their instructions.

The time it takes for wood to dry out depends on the climate and the wood’s exposure. In summer in the American southwest, deck lumber open to sunshine can dry in a few days. In cool, damp weather or when shaded by an overhanging roof or tree, it will take much longer for wood to dry.

Even though no maintenance is needed to retain the treated lumber’s resistance to rot, fungal decay and termites, a regular maintenance program, including a periodic coating of water repellent, will help maintain the appearance of your project. This will also protect against splitting and checking.

A comprehensive study of occupational, residential, and playground uses of wood pressure-treated with copper azole preservative has concluded, “no adverse health effects are expected.” Believed to be the first independent human health risk assessment of the new generation of treated wood products, the study was commissioned by Bayer Chemicals Corporation (now Lanxess Corporation) and conducted by Gradient Corporation, a noted environmental and toxicological consulting firm. Lanxess manufactures Preventol® A8, which is an azole fungicide used in the copper, azole preservative.

A number of different exposures (e.g., inhalation, incidental ingestion, exposure to the skin) were assessed and aggregated in each of these scenarios. The highest potential risk was estimated to be 17 times lower than the level that the EPA uses as a safety benchmark, thus demonstrating the safety of copper azole-treated wood.

Pressure treated wood is safe to be used in gardens as well. Scientific studies have proven that any copper that may migrate from the treated wood becomes biologically inactive, thus causing no eco-toxic or other environmental impacts.

Wolmanized® wood is made in a pressurized cylinder using a closed system that recycles excess preservative for future use and releases no air pollutants nor wastewater. Only licensed producers who follow stringent quality control measures make Wolmanized wood. The basic treating process is simple and highly controlled.

  1. Lumber, timbers, or plywood is loaded onto small rail or tram cars. The trams are moved into a large, horizontal treating cylinder.
  2. The cylinder door is sealed and a vacuum is applied to remove air from the cylinder and the wood cells.
  3. Preservative solution is then pumped into the cylinder.
  4. The pressure is raised to about 150 pounds per square inch, forcing the preservative into the wood.
  5. Treating time varies depending on species of wood, commodity being treated, and the amount of preservative to be impregnated.
  6. At the end of the process, excess treating solution is pumped out of the cylinder and back to a storage tank for later re-use.
  7. A final vacuum removes excess preservative from wood cells. The cylinder door is opened and the trams are pulled out. The wood is wet, so it is kept on a concrete pad until any dripping ceases.

Unlike plastics, steel, and concrete, Wolmanized wood is made from a renewable resource grown on managed timberlands. It requires less energy to produce than plastics and offers greater insulation value; and, because of its lighter weight, preserved wood can often be installed with lighter equipment which has less environmental impact. Wood products reduce greenhouse gasses, and preservative treatment extends their service life.

This wood has the same strength properties of untreated wood of the same species, grade, and moisture content.

Preserved wood may be disposed of in landfills or burned in commercial or industrial incinerators or boilers in accordance with federal, state and local regulations.

Selecting the right fasteners will help ensure the longevity of your project. Use hot-dip galvanized or other fasteners as required by local building codes. Galvanized and stainless steel fasteners are corrosion-resistant and will not stain your project. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.