FAQ's
About Our Woods
Wood is a very comprehensive and economic construction material, but when it is untreated, it becomes the target of insects’ attacks, microorganisms and fungi. Treated wood is protected from all these natural enemies. For this reason, the projects carried out with pressure-treated wood have an increased estimated life.
It is an injection process of chemical preservatives like MicroPro, micronized copper and/or chromated copper arsenate (CCA) in the internal cells of the wood through a process called «vacuum pressure». Any trace of moisture is removed from the wood. The vacuum/pressure process permits to set preservatives inside each piece, so this way there will be no spills or leaks into the soil or water nearby. Our processes (MicroPro, micronized copper and CCA), allow us to produce a clean, odorless and safe for the environment wood in which people, pets and plants will go on.
No, when it comes to MicroPro, Micronized Copper and CCA products. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified these and other wood preservatives used as alternative solutions, as a «restricted use» products. This means that the preservative can only be sold and used by certified companies and/or people. This restriction only applies to chemical preservatives and not the treated wood products. When used properly, the pressure-treated wood is safe for people, pets and plants. Ecomaderas Del Sur, SA is properly certified for this.
It can be used outdoors, where building materials are required to resist termites and fungi. You can use them, for example, in house foundations, external walls, decks, fences, balconies, docks, marinas, posts, wells, bridges, gardens and other agricultural applications.
The pressure-treated wood is often used to build playgrounds. Tests have been conducted to determine if a child is exposed to carcinogens when sucking their hands after having slipped into products made with treated wood. The data provided by the Department of Health Service of California, led the specialists in Epidemiology and Occupational Health to consider the potential risk is zero. This statement has been confirmed by a recent study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission
A water repellent or wood sealer specially formulated for pressure-treated wood can be periodically applied to reduce cracks on wood and therefore also reduce the likelihood of children being injured by a wood splinter.
The pressure-treated wood does not emit vapors or gases and can be used indoors in any area that requires protection against termites and fungi.
On a picnic table, yes you can; on a counter, you shouldn’t. No wood, treated or untreated, is recommended for work surfaces. The main use of picnic tables made from wood treated with the proper products is to serving foods already prepared, while countertops or workbenches are supposed to cut and prepare raw food over them. The Food and Drugs Administration Bureau doesn’t recommend wood surfaces to cut food over them because food particles can penetrate the pores of these surfaces.
This can cause the growth of bacteria thus creating an unhealthy environment.
It has not been demonstrated that pressure-treated wood causes cancer in humans or animals. Epidemiological researches in carpenters and workers in the treatment plants have shown that there is no risk of cancer to occur as a result of the exposition to treated wood preservatives. Despite this, Ecomaderas Del Sur, SA is implementing the use of new technologies (MicroPro and micronized copper) to strictly comply with the regulations set by the authorities of the Health Department.
EPA determined that the benefits of pressure-treated wood outweighed any potential risk, but there are always some tips to follow, more like common sense and good security practices in the handling of either treated or not treated wood:
- Avoid breathing dust or sawdust to prevent throat or nose irritation;
- Protect your eyes to prevent they get affected by a foreign object.
- Wear gloves, to have extra protection against wood splinters and. Ensuring good personal hygiene should be a common practice in shops and workplaces.
- Hands should be washed after doing any kind of construction work.
Treated wood should not be used in direct or indirect contact with water, except in casual contact occasions like in docks or bridges. It should not come into contact with water. Do not use treated wood in counters, desks, places that have contact with the honey from hives or structures or containers for storing grain.
All pressure-treated wood should be discarded as waste, collected by a garbage truck or buried. If burned, it can produce toxic chemicals. Industrial consumers discard the treated wood by using industrial or commercial incinerators in accordance with state regulations.
These products are perfectly suitable for use in gardens, terraces, vineyards, tomato fields, flower plantations, retaining walls, etc. They are not only safe for these places but they also offer the advantage of serving as durable structure for your projects.
When wood is exposed to ultraviolet rays, it gets naturally discolored, getting old until reach a beautiful gray. If desired, you can renew the natural color by applying a high quality water repellent stain.
MicroPro is the newest technology for pressure treated wood by Osmose. The wood is treated with micronized copper preservatives fixed to the pores of the wood that help to protect the wood against termite damage and decay due to fungi. Continue reading…
Yes it can be dyed, varnished and painted. Although pressure treated wood with MicroPro looks fresher and brighter, with a more modern and natural appearance, its light color makes it easier to dye, paint or varnish. For best results, we recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions and the information on the product’s label. Continue reading…
MicroPro technology provides better protection against corrosion of nails and other approved hardware implements for outdoor use. As a complement, we recommend using nails, bolts, tips, brackets, connectors, joints, holding brackets, rivets and other galvanized iron or stainless steel implements which comply with the recommendations and requirements of building standards. Continue reading…
Wood treated with MicroPro® and other Osmose products can be used outdoors and indoors. Outdoors the wood can be installed even in contact with the ground and fresh water. Continue reading…
In fact, it must be dosed. MicroPro technology provides three basic types of treatment, according to the use treated wood will get: for interiors, for wood products to be used on the ground and for those who will be in contact with the ground or immersed in fresh water. For this, it is required to have autoclaves or vacuum-pressure equipment available, like those Ecomaderas del Sur has in their facilities. Continue reading…
Ask Us
If you have any further questions please send it through this form.