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UFPI.COM
THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND NOTHING HEREIN SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS GRANTING ANY ADDITIONAL WARRANTIES OTHER THAN
THE TERMS OF THE EXPRESS WRITTEN WARRANTIES FOR PROWOOD AND UFP TREATED REFERENCED HEREIN. ANY ADDITIONAL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
ARE HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED.
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TECHNICAL BULLETIN
UNDERSTANDING PRODUCT USE OF PRESSURE-TREATED LUMBER
UNDERSTANDING TREATED WOOD — WHAT IS IT?
Not all treated wood is the same. In this section we will review Aboveground Use vs. Ground Contact/Fresh Water Use
and ProWood® vs. UFP-Treated™ products.
ABOVEGROUND VS. GROUND CONTACT
A primary dierence between treated products is that some can only be used in aboveground applications. These are not
intended to be used in, on or near the ground. By contrast, other products are made for ground contact and have a
significantly higher concentration of preservative to protect the wood in these more challenging conditions.
Additionally, products may not resist fungal decay (rot) if they are used in ways that approximate ground contact,
like in poorly ventilated areas where they are damp for extended periods of time or where they are exposed to accumulated
debris for long periods of time. One rule of thumb is to have at least 6 inches of clearance between the ground and the treated
wood. Special care must be taken when using under-deck ceiling systems to avoid these pitfalls. To provide more detailed help, a
special FAQ bulletin on these systems is available at ProWoodLumber.com/UnderDeck.
PROWOOD
®
VS. UFP-TREATED
™
ProWood® products are UFP’s best line of treated products, and as such, they carry our Lifetime Limited Warranty for
protection from fungal decay and termite attack. Our ProWood® products will always bear an end tag identifying them
as such, along with a clear statement of their intended use (Aboveground Use Only or Ground Contact/Fresh Water).
Whenever possible, this is prominently displayed as a logo on the front of the tag. Sometimes, however, a retailer will desire
to have their logo on the tag. In these cases, ProWood® will be stated on the back of the tag. Some retailers may oer our
second line of products that carry a shorter warranty period, typically one year. These products will all have the UFP-Treated™
logo on the front of the tag. It is our hope to clearly dierentiate these two options so consumers can make an informed
decision and purchase the product that is right for them.
WATER-BASED PRESERVATIVE DELIVERY SYSTEM
There are basically two types of liquids we come across in our normal daily lives: polar (like water) and non-polar (like
mineral spirits). In the science of wood preservation and wood protection, we have the same basic choices. As it turns out,
water is the best carrier to deliver our wood preservatives deep into the wood where they can provide long-term protection.
There are many benefits to using water, including a very clean and stain-free surface without any oily residue or strong odor,
plus the best environmental scorecard. However, there is one drawback: when we treat the wood, we fully saturate the wood
fiber and the wood swells in the same way a sponge swells when you get it wet.
The water in the treated wood will evaporate naturally, but this will only happen once air can circulate around the individual
piece. Often this does not happen until the wood is purchased or even after your project is built. This means the wood will
likely be in its swollen state when you are building your project. (This is also why treated wood feels heavy.)
The amount of swelling is governed entirely by Mother Nature and can vary quite a bit. A good rule of thumb is to expect
a 6 inch deck board to shrink between a 1/4” and 3/8”, but it can be more. This has nothing to do with the way the product
is treated or the preservative it is treated with. It is a characteristic of that particular piece of wood.
Some ProWood® products have been kiln dried after treatment. They are referred to as KDAT, for Kiln Dried After Treatment.
KDAT products will be purchased with a moisture content much closer to the one they will naturally attain, typically around 12%.
IF AN ABOVEGROUND PRODUCT IS USED IN A GROUND CONTACT APPLICATION, ANY
DAMAGE FROM FUNGAL DECAY OR TERMITE ATTACK IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.
WARRANTY TIP
IF AN ABOVEGROUND PRODUCT IS USED IN AN APPLICATION THAT CAN SIMULATE
GROUND CONTACT, ANY DAMAGE FROM FUNGAL DECAY OR TERMITE ATTACK IS NOT
COVERED BY WARRANTY. THESE APPLICATIONS REQUIRE THE USE OF MATERIAL
TREATED FOR GROUND CONTACT.
WARRANTY TIP