7 Things to Look For to Tell if Wood Is Pressure Treated

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Pressure-treated wood resists fungal rot and destructive pests, making it a great option for decks or fences. However, since it's treated with chemicals like arsenic, creosote, and copper, it's important to know when you're dealing with pressure-treated wood, especially if you're using the wood in a garden or playset since chemicals can leach into the soil. To tell if old or new wood has been pressure treated, read through our list of things to look for.

Things You Should Know

  • Read the white tag on the end or find the colored stamp on the wood to see if the wood has been pressure treated.
  • Look for a tell-tale green tint, or smell the wood—pressure-treated wood has a chemical or oily odor.
  • Check for incision marks across the entire surface of the wood. These incisions help the preservatives penetrate deep into pressure-treated wood.
1

Tag or Stamp

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d1\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d1\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The stamp could be anywhere on the wood, but a tag is usually stapled to the end of the board. The tag or stamp lists the type of preservative the wood contains. It also gives helpful information like where the wood is intended to be used—inside or outside and above or below ground. Here are preservatives and their abbreviations to look for on your wood: [1]
    • Acid copper chromate (ACC)
    • Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ)
    • Copper azole (CA)
    • Chromated copper arsenate (CCA)
    • Copper-HDO
    • Copper naphthenate
    • Creosote
    • Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
    • Sodium Borate (SBX)
    • Micronized Copper Quaternary (MCQ)
    2. Advertisement
2

Incisions

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    These incisions are 1 ⁄ 2 to 3 ⁄ 4 inch (1.3 to 1.9 cm) long and they're at regular intervals on every side of the wood. Untreated wood typically doesn't have incisions. [2]
    • The incisions help the preservatives penetrate deep into the wood, especially if it's hardwood like Douglas fir.
3

Color

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a0\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a0\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To pressure-treat wood, lumber is coated with preservatives and put into a cylindrical chamber. Then, it's pressurized so the chemicals penetrate deep into the wood. This changes the color of the wood and tends to give it a slightly green tint. [3] Some types of wood, like soft southern yellow pine, turn a darker brown.
    • Note that the greenish tint can fade over time, so this isn't a completely reliable way of determining if old wood was pressure treated.
    2. Advertisement
4

Smell

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If the wood was pressure treated with water-based preservatives, it smells a bit like plastic or chemicals, not like wood typically smells—fragrant and natural. If it was pressure treated with oil-based preservatives, the wood will smell oily. [4]
    • Pressure-treated wood is typically made using pine, fir, or spruce trees. These are pleasantly fragrant if they're untreated, but if they smell "off" or like chemicals, it's a good sign they're pressure-treated.
5

Size

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Since the wood absorbs liquid chemicals during the pressure treatment, it's slightly larger than untreated wood of the same dimension. [5]
    • Pressure-treated wood can get slightly smaller as it dries, so it's really hard to paint brand-new lumber because the paint will peel as the wood contracts and shrinks. If you do want to paint pressure-treated wood, wait until the lumber is totally dry.
    2. Advertisement
6

Fact Sheet

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you're buying lumber from a hardware store or lumber mill, ask for a product fact sheet. The Environmental Protection Agency requires that lumber suppliers provide information about the chemicals used in pressure-treating wood, so this is a great way to definitely tell if wood has been pressure treated. [6]
    • For example, the fact sheet should clearly state if the wood was treated and the chemical that was used. It should go on to explain whether or not it's safe to burn the wood, and what safety precautions you should take when cutting or handling the wood.
7

Test Kit

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/18\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/18\/Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Tell-if-Wood-Is-Pressure-Treated-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Get a test kit to see if older wood was pressure treated with arsenic. Although arsenic in the form of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was phased out of pressure-treated lumber in 2004, you might be wondering if old wooden structures like playsets or garden beds have pressure-treated wood. Purchase a CCA test kit and follow the manufacturer's instructions for testing a sample of sawdust. The results will show the level of arsenic, if any, in the wood. [7]
    • Unfortunately, wood test kits only test for arsenic. To buy a wood testing kit, check local hardware stores, lumber yards, or online.
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Can you paint pressure-treated wood?
    Archie Guerrero
    Commercial & Residential Painting Specialist
    Archie Guerrero is a Commercial and Residential Painting Specialist and the Operations Manager for DGP Painting in Austin, Texas. With a decade of experience, Archie specializes in interior and exterior painting and staining, cabinet refinishing, and wallpaper and popcorn removal. DGP Painting offers clients environmentally friendly paint materials and top-of-the-line paint products. DGP Painting has an A+ rating with the BBB and has been in Austin’s “Best of the Best.”
    Archie Guerrero
    Commercial & Residential Painting Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Pressure-treated wood can be painted, stained, or primed only once it has dried out. If it is still drying, the paint will peel and not stick to it. You can perform a simple test: pour a handful of water onto your wood. If the water beads up, the wood is still wet and not ready for painting; if it soaks into the surface, the wood can be painted or stained.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 6
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Measure and Determine the Cost of a Cord of Wood
      How to
      Build a Wooden Gate
      How to
      Connect Wood to Concrete
      How to
      Remove Burn Marks on Wood
      4 Ways to Bend Wood Without Breaking It
      How to
      Cut Grooves in Wood
      How to
      Mod Podge Paper Onto Wood
      How to
      Mod Podge Pictures onto Wood
      How to
      Bend Plywood
      6 Easy DIY Ways to Fix Cracks, Gaps, & Holes in Wood
      How to
      Cut Hardboard
      How to
      Determine the Wood Type Used in Furniture
      How to
      Adhere Fabric to Wood
      How to
      Identify Teak Wood
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/treatedwood.html
      2. ↑ https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/basics-of-pressure-treatment-of-wood.html
      3. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/doc/qa-pressure-treated-wood/download
      4. ↑ https://dtsc.ca.gov/toxics-in-products/treated-wood-waste/
      5. ↑ https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/basics-of-pressure-treatment-of-wood.html
      6. ↑ https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/w-hhw4-75.pdf
      7. ↑ https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/CCA-Treated-Wood-Guidance_Doc_06Mar18.pdf

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 59,284 times.
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement