Treated lumber for kid's play structure?

[Alex Franke]

I read a while ago that treated lumber used to contain arsenic, so it was generally a bad idea to use it for play structures, but also that new treated lumber doesn't have this problem.

I'm thinking 4x4's for the posts. I want to round off the edges a bit, but I also understand that that's probably not a good idea with treated lumber because the "treatment" doesn't soak all the way into the wood -- just on or near the surface.

Any advice? I want to start on it this weekend...

Thanks, all!

[djmcheme]

My advice....if you bought the 4x4's recently (in the past year or so) then you have nothing to worry about...No arsenic. Dont worry about rounding the edges...the wood should be treated all the way through to the center...you can check this by looking at a cut edge...if it is greenish all the way to the center then it is a good piece of treated lumber. The only thing you have to worry about now is the hardware you use in the lumber. Do not just use regular old fasteners...Try to get stainless steel or hot dip galvanized at the very least. The new pressure treated wood can be tough on fasteners because of the high copper content in the wood. You dont want to chance a fastener going bad in a childs play gym.

[timb]

yes it did. I don't know if it's changed. You should ask your supplier about the specifc product you are going to use.

If you can, I think it would be better to use redwood or cedar particualry for the superstructure.

If you do use treated lumber it might be wise to seal it with some exterior paint or stain even if the product is supposedly "safe"

On the other hand arsenic is a fairly slow killer so you should get some years of enjoyment out of it before it has any serious effects on the rug rats

Tim

[timb]

I have never seen a 4X4 where the treatment actually goes all the way through but if you are thinking something like 1/2 inch round you'll be fine. The preasure treatment generally penetrates the first inch or so of the wood. Its nasty stuff to work though. Tends to be wet or brittle depending how new it is. Wear saftey glasses.

Tim

[LCHIEN]

The new stuff has no arsenic. But you should still wear dustmask when cutting.
Use a 1/4" roundover or so, if you just want to break the edges so they're not sharp and splinter.

I heard about the fasteners too, SS will be expensive but galvanized would be 2nd choice.

[LarryG]

My own, hands-on experience with PT lumber is limited (hate the stuff, avoid it like the plague), but two or three This Old House projects ago, Tom Silva said that stainless fasteners are the only way to go now. Apparently the new chemicals will eat ordinary galvanized fasteners alive, in very short order.

[Hellrazor]

The new PT lumber does not have arsenic. The drawback is that you MUST use hardware certified for use with the newer PT. Stainless steel or hot dipped galvanized only.

[offthemark]

Depending on the size of the structure, you could spend a small fortune on stainless fasteners. They make two kinds of galvanized now. One is OK for the new pressure treated. Just read carefully (it should say on the box/bin). I built a mammoth swing/fort for my tots a couple of years back. Used lots of galvanized bolts for the main connections and a couple of five pound boxes of deck screws for flooring/roof. All the fasteners seems to be doing just fine with no major wear.

Good luck.

[ejs1097]

Although they don't make PT with arsenic anymore the MO was to sell the old stuff and replace it with the new stuff. Not sure if there were huge stockpiles still being delivered to the stores, it would still be a good idea to double check. Most PT has tags on it they indicate what it was treated with and how much (below grade vs above grade).

I personally like the look of a chamfered edges vs a round over for corners of posts, just another thought. If you are worried about removing the PT with the corner treatmeants you can buy treatment and apply it to the cut edges (which is a good idea on the bottom of the posts anyway).

[430752]

Ummm...overkill?

Ummm....not to sound too unconcerned, but I grew up more recently than most here and in the 70's the old green pressure treated lumber was used in school yards and such all the time (that I can remember). That, and the old creosote coated/infused railroad ties. I climbed under them, over them, thru them, etc.

And I'm basically healthy except for that uncontrollable twitch in my arms and the voices I hear sometimes.

Yes, new pt lumber was supposed to be phased in a year ago, but my local BORG's still appear to carry the old stuff, tho' I never inspected closely.

curt j.