Pressure Treatment For Timber – Why It’s Important For Timber Buildings?

10 Oct Pressure Treatment For Timber – Why It’s Important For Timber Buildings?

Timber is a beautiful, natural material that has been used in construction for centuries. In recent years, timber buildings have become increasingly popular as a more sustainable alternative to buildings e.g., timber stables and barns, made from other materials such as concrete and steel. However, unprotected timber is vulnerable to attack from decay fungi, insects, and adverse weather. This is where pressure treatment comes in.

Pressure Treated Timber For Timber Buildings

Pressure treatment is a process whereby timber is impregnated with a preservative under high pressure. This preservative diffuses into the wood, forming a barrier against decay and insect attack. Pressure treated timber is an ideal material for use in timber building projects such as cladding, decking, fencing, and landscaping.

Types of Pressure Treatment

There are two main types of pressure treatment for the kind of timber that could be used in timber buildings:

1) Shallow impregnation – the preservative is forced into the surface of the timber using air or vacuum pressure. Shallow impregnation is usually only effective against decay fungi and insects that attack the surface of the wood.

2) Deep impregnation – the preservative is forced into the wood using positive pressure. Deep impregnation provides long-term protection against all types of decay/rotting fungi, insects, and the excesses of the UK’s weather.

Wood Preservatives

The most common preservatives used in pressure treatment are copper-based compounds such as copper chrome arsenate (CCA) and zinc borate (ZB). These preservatives are highly effective against decay fungi and insects and are suitable for use in a wide range of external applications. As a leading south west timber buildings supplier, we use high pressure treated through our ISO9001 treatment process to protect our timber products from decay and insect attack.

Benefits of Pressure Treated Timber

Pressure treated timber has a number of benefits over untreated timber:

1) Increased lifespan – Timber buildings using pressure treated timber can have a lifespan of several decades, whereas untreated timber may only last for 10-15 years.

2) Reduced maintenance – pressure treated timber does not require regular painting or staining like untreated timber does. This can save you time and money in the long run.

3) Some types of pressure treated timber have increased resistance to fire.

4) Increased resistance to weathering – pressure treated timber is less likely to warp, split, or crack than untreated timber due to its increased resistance to weathering.

Treated Timber Buildings

Pressure treated timber is an ideal material for use in external timber building projects due to its increased lifespan, reduced maintenance requirements, and increased resistance to fire and weathering. If you’re planning on using timber in your next building project, be sure to ask your supplier about pressure treatment options.