Green (colored) Lumber

I'm talking about the lumber that is visibly green - the wolmanized, or pressure treated lumber that takes up the majority of the lumber area in Lowe's or Home Depot. You've probably read or heard about some of the controversy over that lumber, like you should not burn it, or that you should wear gloves when handling it.

The EPA announced yesterday that they will not approve one of the treatments called Acid Copper Chromate (ACC) for residential use because of the potential for harmful effects on humans. ACC is just one of a handful of different pesticides used, and the others are linked in a box on the right side of the page.

If, like me, you've always wondered about treated lumber and why it's dangerous, browse those pages and you'll be much better informed.

Alternatives? Again, I'm sad to tell you that many alternatives are costly and have widely varying properties. One just simply cannot keep untreated lumber outside for very long without it literally falling apart, so unless you have a lot of money to spend, you may be stuck with treated lumber. Some alternate treatments are listed here.

I built a play set last summer and used treated lumber except up on the decking where the kids will be in contact with the material the most. Up there I used a composite, which is recycled plastic extruded with sawdust or wood chips. It's more expensive, heavier, and not as strong so you'll need more joists. But, you'll never have to seal it and it won't warp or shrink, and it's safe for the kids to play on (no slivers either).

So if you're thinking about building something this summer, start your research now and see what's available in your area. You may even ask you local lumberyard to order something they don't normally carry. That kind of request is one of the few ways to help bring more environmentally friendly products to the masses. Many people believe that if Lowe's doesn't have it, it doesn't exist.