Choose more benign pressure-treated lumber

Tags: Balconies, Preservative-Treated Wood and Treatment Products, Preserved-Wood Decking

Less toxic lumber is available for outdoor use.

Today, copper is the most common active ingredient in pressure-treated lumber for decks. Other wood products include treatment with borates (which are not water resistant), and a new generation of light organic solvent preservatives (LOSPs). Long-term performance and health concerns of LOSPs, however, are not yet known.

The greenest pressure-treated-wood option for decking involves sodium silicate and heat treatment. The resulting material is nontoxic and highly resistant to insects and decay. This product is not yet widely available

Green points

LEEDLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED for Homes is the residential green building program from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). While this program is primarily designed for and applicable to new home projects, major gut rehabs can qualify. -H: 1/2 pt. for decking that is FSCNonprofit organization that promotes forestry practices that are sustainable from environmental and social standpoints; FSC certification on a wood product is an indicator that the wood came from a well-managed forest.-certified, salvaged, or recycled; 1/2 point more if it is locally sourced (MR 2.2)
NGBSNational Green Building Standard Based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and passed through ANSI. This standard can be applied to both new homes, remodeling projects, and additions. /ICC-700: up to 5 pts. for covered entryways (602.1); best-practice deck/porch flashing details on plans contributes to 6 pts. total for flashing (602.12); up to 6 pts. for insect-resistant materials (602.8); up to 3 pts. for using recycled-content (604.1); up to 8 pts. if wood decking is FSCForest Stewardship Council. An independent, nonprofit organization that promotes responsible forest management through the use of a third-party certification process. FSC certification includes a chain-of-custody requirement that tracks sustainability of wood products from growth to end use.-certified (606.1).