Gonsumers want answers

V/OUR customers don't know as I much about treated wood products as they'd like to know.

While most people have no reservations about the use of pressure treated wood in the home or in an industrial setting, many feel the need to be more aware of use and safe handling procedures. A recent survey commissioned by the American Wood Preservers Institute found 797o of the respondents bad no worries about the use of treated wood in the home. Another 7'lVo expressed no concern over the use of treated wood for utility poles, railway ties, marine piling and the like.

other findings of the May and Jane,1992, research: o Over the last five years, 60.9 million adult Americans purchased or built something with treated wood. o Seventy-five percent of the purchasers of treated wood are very satisfied with the producl o Purchasers of treated wood are more concerned with use and safe handling procedures than non-purchasers and are about twice as likely to be concemed about public use and handling of treated wood.

O About one-third of the American public purchases and uses treated wood.

O People, especially purchasers, want additional information about treated wood.

Story at a Glance

The Questions They Ask

Q: Does CCA preservative leach into soil? Will it harm my plants or landscaping?

A: CCA in treated wood is extremely leach resistant. The preservative reacts chemically witb the wood so it is actually fixed in the fiber. There is no evidence of hamr to plants or vegetables.

Q: Why is CCA treated wood suitable for picnic tables but not for countertops: o People want information about the chemicals and processes used to Eeat the wood as well as the grades and types of treated wood, with an explanation of potential uses and longevity. o People want tips on installation and care needed to minimize problems of warping, twisting and shrinking.

A: Picnic tables are primarily used for serving prepared food while a countertop is used primarily as a cutting surface. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, no wood surface should be used for cutting since food particles are likely to become embedded, allowing bacterial growth.

Q: Can treated wood be used indoors?

A: CCA heated wood does not emit vapors or fumes and may be used indoors except for cutting boards and countertops.

Q: Can exposure to treated wood cause cancer?

Research began with focus groups in six U.S. cities to identi$ the public's "top of mind" issues related to treated wood followed by a survey of 1,000 randomly selected people across the United States. Results of the market research will be used to expand the industry's information program to increase consumer awareness of the uses and safe handling procedures of treated wood products.

Consumer Information Sheets outlining the benefits of teued wood and common sense tips for working with treated wood are available from the American Wood Preservers Institute, 1945 Old Gallows Rd., Suite 550, Dept. NU, Vienna, Va 22182 - Editor.

A: While some forms of arsenic and chrcme are regarded as capable of inducing cancer in humans, these are not present in arsenically heated wood.

Q: Are there any special precautions that apply to freated wood?

A: Treated wood should not be bumed. If you bum heated wood, you release the preservative constituents locked in tbe wood cellulose. These end up in the wood ash and can cause health or environmental concerns if not properly handled.

Q: How do I know CCA treated wood is safe?

A: No serious health problems have surfaced in the neady 60 years that CCA treated wood has been used. EPA reviews have found product benefits far outweigh any minimal risks associated with is use.

Q: How can consumers educate themselves about treated wood?

A: Consumer Information Sheets available from your source of treated wood contain recommendations for handling and using CCA heated wood.

EUYING trends indicate purlJchasers of standard pressure Eeated wood are ready for something new. In addition, the sometimes limited availability and higher prices of redwood and cedar lumber are spurring would-be consumers to look for alternative products.

Although nearly 20Vo of all do-ityourself projects in the united States involve using or working with pressure treated wood or plywood*, West Coast retailers have enjoyed only modest sales of standard pressure treated wood.

Story at a Glance

New developments in pressure treated wood will attract more buysrs, increase sales ... warm brown+olored Product introduced in West makes way across country accompanied by customer raves.

The West Coast is known for trends in residential design. Most importantly, states Professional Builder & Remodeler magazine, the acceptance of these designs signals trends that may find their way into blueprints across the nation. West Coast consumers may have been ahead of the rest of the nation in wanting more from their lumber purchases. The sales plateau that the pressure treated wood industfy has experienced since 1988, after 20 years of growth, is one indicator that consumers all over the nation are ready for something more.

Consumers who do not want to build with pressure treated wood use redwood and cedar. A study by Resource Information Systems, Inc. reports that the three primary qualities cited by consumers as reasons for choosing cedar and redwood are appearance, weather resistance and color.

Would-be cedar and redwood consumers often find that the cost can be significantly higher than what they were planning to spend. In addition, much of the cedar and redwood in today's market is second growth. Cut from smaller trees, it contains sapwood and has not na$red enough to