Moldicide keeps pressure treated lumber looking good

waste or through selling the leftovers at a reduced price.

retail oNE of the biggest selling points for pressure treated wood at the level is something the consumer never sees and may not even be aware of - protection against black mold and mildew. Pressure treated wood that has been protected with a moldicide will be cleaner, more attractive and more saleable.

Story at a Glance

Lumber pressure treated with a mold inhibitor is immune to black mold and mildevv. cleaner looking wood sells better. dealers can request moldicide treatment.

Because the typical end uses for pressure treated lumber are in decks, landscaping and other outdoor improvement projects, cosmetic appearance can be as important for sales as the structural properties. Dirty looking woodwood stained from patches of black moldwill end up as pick throughs. Ultimately this is costly for the retailer, either as

With retailers moving over 80olr of the treated industry's volume, according to the Southern Forest Products Association, it is important for the wood industry to understand the retailer's problems and help to overcome them.

Black mold on pressure treated products starts in the treater's yard. Moisture from the preservative solution cannot escape when freshly treated lumber is dead packed and stored. This creates an ideal environment for the growth of black mold. The fungus originates from airborne spores that are literally everywhere, in northern as well as southern regions of the country.

Black mold lives on moisture in the pack. It does not actually feed on wood fiber. For this reason, the CCA preservative in the wood does not retard black mold growth. However, protection against black mold is available through a different family of chemicals, called mold inhibitors, that can be added to the preservative solution.

A number of companies serving the treated wood industry supply mold inhibitors, although the use of the chemicals has by no means become an industry standard. However, mold inhibitor use is a growing trend, for several good reasons. typically is enough time for the wood to move through distribution. Once the pack is opened and exposed to light and air, allowing it to dry, the conditions that promote black mold are no longer present.

According to Tom Fitzgerald, national sales manager for Rentokil SupaTimber, use of a mold inhibitor can also benefit the treater through increased storage life, allowing him to build up inventory ahead of anticipated business.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, lt's Free Speakers who can tell retailers, their employees and customers all about pressure treated wood are available nationwide through the newly formed Wood Preserving Industry Speakers Bureau.

The volume of mold inhibitor required for activity against black mold and mildew is low. Rentokil SupaTimber, Inc., Norcross, Ga., a mold inhibitor supplier, recommends a dosage of only one gallon per 1500 gallons of treatment solution. This translates into an added treatment cost ofabout $l per 1000 board feet.

The protection achieved at that dosage will last for three months to a year, depending on conditions. This

The retailer can't use the mold inhibitor directly, since it must be added at the time of pressure treatment. For distributors and retailers, the only way to assure that they are getting a product that has been protected from black mold is to specify wood that has been treated with a mold inhibitor when they place their orders for pressure treated products.

Fibreboard Houston Purchase

Fibreboard Corp., Concord, Ca., has acquired the metaljacketing and metal elbow manufacturing operations of Distribution International, Houston, Tx., for about $10 million.

In discussing the free Consumer Awareness Programs presented by volunteers, Pat Hamilton of the American Wood Preservers Institute said, "We're what you might call product proud so we can be eloquent on the subject for half an hour or top off a meeting with a short video and a brief talk, but either way we bring colorful posters and counterstrips to distribute

The program includes information on the treating process, use, handling and disposal of pressure treated wood. Arrangements for a speaker may be made with Pat Hamilton at AWPI, 1945 Old Gallows Rd., Suite 550, Vienna, Ya. 22182, (703) 893-4005.