CA-C

Key Benefits of Wolmanized® Pressure-Treated Wood

• Long-lasting protection against termite damage and fungal decay

• Pressure-treated with copper azole for deep, durable defense

• Dual-action preservative protects against copper-tolerant fungi

• Versatile applications: Suitable for decks, fences, retaining walls, picnic tables, planter boxes, walkways, sill plates, and structural members

• Flexible use: appropriate for above ground, ground contact, and freshwater immersion (not recommended for saltwater use)

• Natural wood appearance with enhanced durability

• Code-compliant: meets model building codes and AWPA standards

• Environmentally advanced: eliminates wood as a food source for pests

• Decades of performance in outdoor and structural settings

Common Outdoor Applications for Wolmanized® Treated Lumber

CA-C Wolmanized® Outdoor® Wood is suitable for a range of residential, commercial, and agricultural uses:

Above Ground: 

• Decking 

• Railings 

• Fences 

• Pickets 

Ground Contact: 

• Sill plates 

• Fence posts 

• Deck understructure

• Joists and support beams 

• Permanent wood foundations 

• Utility and building poles 

Garden structures (Above Ground and Ground Contact): 

• Planter boxes 

• Raised beds 

• Retaining walls 

• Walkways  

• Picnic tables 

• Outdoor furniture  

Fresh-water Immersion  

• (Not for use in full salt-water immersion) 

• Docks 

• Pilings 

How to Maintain and Handle Pressure-Treated Wood

Maintenance

Wolmanized® Outdoor® Wood can be stained just like regular wood once the surface is dry and painted once it has thoroughly dried internally. For best results with painting, use wood that has been re-dried after treatment or allow the project to weather and dry for several months before applying paint. Light-colored latex paints generally perform well when applied over a brush-on oil-based primer. Avoid spray-application of primer and always follow paint manufacturer instructions—especially when finishing end grain, holes, and cuts. To help prevent moisture damage and maintain appearance, apply a water repellent yearly or every two years and clean the surface as needed to refresh the wood’s color. 

Safe Handling

Treated wood should be handled similarly to untreated wood, with standard safety precautions: wear gloves and goggles when cutting or handling; use a dust mask to avoid inhaling sawdust; and wash hands thoroughly before eating, drinking, smoking, or using the restroom. Avoid using treated wood in applications where it could become part of food, animal feed, or bedding. 

Building Code Compliance and AWPA Standards for Treated Wood

This wood complies with model building code requirements and is recognized in the standards set by the American Wood Protection Association (AWPA), a non-profit organization which promulgates voluntary wood preservation standards. It is also supported by a code evaluation report, identified as ICC-ES ESR-1721. 

Best Management Practices (BMP) for Long-Lasting Wood Protection

The Western Wood Preservers Institute, in conjunction with industry representatives, users, and scientists, developed BMPs to help ensure fixation of preservative chemical in treated wood prior to shipment. In the fixation process, some preservative components bond to the wood while others form insoluble precipitates. Specification of BMPs results in wood with a very high percentage of fixed preservative and may also reduce shipping weight. 

Incising Techniques to Maximize Preservative Penetration

In many western species, penetration improvement methods are employed to improve the depth and uniformity of preservative penetration into wood. Most commonly this is seen as a pattern of slits ("incisions") on the surface of lumber. Full-length incising and deep-incising are other methods, as are radial-drilling and through-boring, used mostly for poles and piling.

Although these methods can improve preservation, they can result in a strength reduction for the wood, depending on the pattern, size, and number of incisions. When treated sawn wood products have been incised, the reference design values must be multiplied by the incising factor, Ci, in accordance with section 4.3.8 of the National Design Specification for Wood Construction. A review of penetration improvement methods is recommended before insertion into a specification.

NOTE: Incising is required by the AWPA Standards for refractory species. DF is a refractory species with up to 75 % heartwood.

Why ‘Treated to Refusal’ Wood Falls Short of Industry Standards

This phrase — Treated to Refusal — indicates that the wood was treated under specific conditions until it refused additional preservative, a point usually below the requirements of industry standards. The result is wood that cannot be relied upon to last as long as wood that meets standards. Such wood does not comply with model building code requirements for treated wood. 

To assure yourself of properly treated wood, look for the logo of an ALSC-accredited inspection agency on lumber tags or ink stamps. The logo often appears beside a Checkmark symbol.

Code-Approved Hardware and Fasteners for Wolmanized® Outdoor® Wood 

According to both the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC), metal fasteners used with preservative-treated wood must be hot-dip galvanized and meet the ASTM A153 standard. All applicable code requirements should be followed.

Connectors should be constructed from galvanized steel sheet that complies with ASTM A653, Class G185. For Permanent Wood Foundations, fasteners made of stainless steel—specifically types 304 or 316—are recommended.

In indoor applications or areas where the wood remains dry during use, the risk of corrosion is reduced. In such cases, the codes allow for the use of standard galvanized strapping or mild steel anchor bolts (1/2 inch diameter or larger) to secure Wolmanized® wood to concrete foundations.