By Araceli Arreola
The Paris News
Published March 17, 2004
Blue is better.
At least it is for homes built in the city of Paris.
A new product called borate, released just last week, is placed on wood
to keep it from rotting and keep termites away. It also can handle any
nail. Borate is actually blue, and Paris Building Official Steve Methven
says it is the better choice for bottom plates in new homes in the city.
Currently, many home builders use a treated lumber called green wood for
bottom plates, the bottom part of the wall that holds it up. Chemicals
in the green wood are used to prevent termites and water damage, Methven
explained, however those same chemicals can eat up a standard nail. The
building can fall apart and be destroyed without nails to hold it in
place.
Borate-treated wood just came into inventory March 15, according to Kyle
McCarley, president of the Lumberman’s Association of Texas. He said the
blue wood is a good choice for residential construction where the wood
is protected by a roof. It is not a good choice for an outside structure
such as a deck, because of the blue color.
“It’s not color that you associate with your backyard,” said McCarley,
who is also executive vice president of Paris Lumber & Building Center.
According to McCarley, until Dec. 31, wood was pressure treated with a
chemical known as chromated-copper-arsenate. The public complained to
the Environmental Protection Agency about the arsenate in the treatment,
so the chemical companies voluntarily came up with an alternative
treatment. The treatment known as ACQ, or NatureWood, uses a
copper-based preservative instead. The NatureWood is a green color which
eventually turns brown.
Now, the new chemical, borate, is pressure treated on wood, turning it a
blue color.
Because the product is so new, McCarley said it’s too soon to say how
popular the blue wood will be with builders. However, the ACQ-treated
wood is about one-third of his inventory.
Blue wood is only available at Paris Lumber and Building Centerin one
size right now 2-by-4 boards that are 16 feet long, McCarley said. Paris
Lumber & Building Center has a limited supply. The wood is not available
at Home Depot and McCoy’s yet.
Methven said the city plans to continue to inspect homes to guard
against the improper use of green wood. The city has sent letters to
home builders, he said, and is hoping word-of-mouth knowledge will
circulate about the better wood choice. The city is urging residents who
plan to build a home or commercial business to use the blue wood.
So far, the city is safe because not many homes are being built, Methven
said.
“We’re in pretty good shape up to this point,” Methven said, “We need to
get a jump on it and make sure we have a safe product.”
For more information about these wood treatments visit
www.osmose.com.
http://web.theparisnews.com/story.lasso?wcd=12185
Deborah Elaine Barrie
4 Catherine Street
Smiths Falls, On
Canada
K7A 3Z8
(613)284-8259
http://www.noccawood.ca
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