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I think the wood found in homes is pressure treated lumber which I don't believe is structurally any stronger than non-pt wood, but helps wood withstand the ele

I think the wood found in homes is pressure treated lumber which I don't believe is structurally any stronger than non-pt wood, but helps wood withstand the elements and wards off termites, microorganisms and fungal decay. The most common types of Pressure Treatments (at least that I am aware of in Canada) are Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ) and Copper Azole (CA). However, the wood material usually used to build these mid-rise buildings is cross laminated timber, which does add significant strength to the wood materials. Really cool material actually! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-laminated_timber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-laminated_timber

kevhito 9y ago
Does Canada really build homes out of pressure treated lumber? I have never once seen this in the US. Aside from outside uses (decks, patios, landscaping etc.), pressure treated lumber of one sort or another might be used for a few select applications for home construction, such as sill plates or a bathroom subfloor. Nearly all of the wood used for regular homes is non-pressure treated, at least everywhere I have seen in the US.
- buttcoinslol 9y ago
  No, they don't use PT lumber for framing whole houses in Canada, that guy is just making assumptions. They use it exactly like we do, for wood that comes into contact with concrete. PT wood is roughly 4x the cost and substantially heavier, framing a whole house in it would be nuts.
  - jschwartzi 9y ago
    It will also destroy any fasteners that aren't galvanized or stainless steel, so you definitely wouldn't build a whole house out of it. Depending on the straps that are installed in the foundation, you'll see people use Teco nails or galvanized 10- or 16-penny nails. But regular vinyl sinkers will rust out really quickly.
swampthinker 9y ago
You're right, I definitely over simplified. PT is a little bit stronger than non-PT, and I'm used to calling anything that isn't normal wood "PT" in the field.
- jschwartzi 9y ago
  Pressure-treated wood has a very specific pattern and color. It's usually substantially greener or browner depending on the treatment. And there will be small cuts on the surface of the wood in a regular checker pattern. The pressure treatment just injects the preservative deeper into the wood. It's different from glue-lams or engineered joists, which are just regular old wood that's been glued together.

kevhito 9y ago

Does Canada really build homes out of pressure treated lumber? I have never once seen this in the US. Aside from outside uses (decks, patios, landscaping etc.), pressure treated lumber of one sort or another might be used for a few select applications for home construction, such as sill plates or a bathroom subfloor. Nearly all of the wood used for regular homes is non-pressure treated, at least everywhere I have seen in the US.

buttcoinslol 9y ago
No, they don't use PT lumber for framing whole houses in Canada, that guy is just making assumptions. They use it exactly like we do, for wood that comes into contact with concrete. PT wood is roughly 4x the cost and substantially heavier, framing a whole house in it would be nuts.
- jschwartzi 9y ago
  It will also destroy any fasteners that aren't galvanized or stainless steel, so you definitely wouldn't build a whole house out of it. Depending on the straps that are installed in the foundation, you'll see people use Teco nails or galvanized 10- or 16-penny nails. But regular vinyl sinkers will rust out really quickly.

swampthinker 9y ago

You're right, I definitely over simplified. PT is a little bit stronger than non-PT, and I'm used to calling anything that isn't normal wood "PT" in the field.

jschwartzi 9y ago
Pressure-treated wood has a very specific pattern and color. It's usually substantially greener or browner depending on the treatment. And there will be small cuts on the surface of the wood in a regular checker pattern. The pressure treatment just injects the preservative deeper into the wood. It's different from glue-lams or engineered joists, which are just regular old wood that's been glued together.