Thread: safe decking timber alt.

There is this stuff: http://www.modwood.com.au/

Not sure how it compares on price. It's no good in a bushfire area.

Personally though, I'd stick with hardwood.

The old CCA treated pine is "banned" for use as decking in domestic situations.
Some other alternatives to Silents suggestion if you prefer wood is LOSP treated pine or TanE treated pine.
How does anyone know how safe these products are? They had been telling us CCA was safe for the last 35 years.
If your client was real serious about the health of her kids surely the extra expense of hardwood would not be too much to pay.

Merbu. But I think she should buy an Aussie a job and get hardwood

cca treated pine is accepted in Vic.
Use treated pine & paint it.

Originally Posted by echnidna

cca treated pine is accepted in Vic.
Use treated pine & paint it.

No sorry, CCA treated timber can no longer be used in Australia in playgrounds, public spaces or domestic decking or handrails situations. Came into effect April 1 last year.

Originally Posted by silentC

There is this stuff: http://www.modwood.com.au/

Not sure how it compares on price. It's no good in a bushfire area.

Personally though, I'd stick with hardwood.

My brother in law used this stuff on the deck I helped him with. It's dead straight, easy to nail gun, but I still reckon it looks like plastic regardless of what the guys at the outdoor expo told him. He went for price above anything else. Cheap compared to hardwood.

It's hollow cored so it needs these ugly little plastic caps press fitted into the ends.

I wouldn't use it on mine. Just a personal opinion having broken his and my back putting up a 8m x 4m deck with rolled steel C channels all around and 8 inch joists at 450 centres trim fiited into the channel, just to see this stuff laid on top.

Sorry...staritng to sound like sour grapes......

A lot (most?) T/Pine decking sold around here now is ACQ treated rather than the CCA.


Cheers................Sean

What about LOSP treated?

Just my opinion, but I don't trust LOSP as it is only a surface treatment and every cut or penetration should be treated by hand.
I prefer TanE or ACQ which (to my knowledge) are both applied via autoclave

Hi everyone.
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I wouldn’t suggest using LOSP in decking applications as it is only has a 10 year warranty on the treatment.<o></o>
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As mentioned above, in Victoria they are using ACQ to treat decking.<o></o>
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The major issue that your client may be worried about is that the traditional treatment (CCA) contained Arsenic.

ACQ no longer contains arsenic but now contains Quat which is used in your general house cleaning chemicals.<o></o>

Tests done on ACQ by government departments in Australia (APVMA) show that there are no issues with it and its performance is still the same if not better than CCA.<o></o><o></o>
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I believe that they also offer a lifetime warranty on ACQ which I think is around 50 years.<o></o>
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If you customer has any concerns about ACQ get them to contact either the APVMA or Osmose <st1:country-region w:st="[/IMG]Australia."></st1:country-region> They will go into more detail.

Your only other cheap alternative which is available in most states is Cypress Pine. its usualy around the $1.50 to $2.00 mark. its just hard to get it in long or set lengths.

The ACQ treated pine decking will be available on most long lengths ranging from 4.8m to 6.0m.<o></o>
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Cheers<o></o>
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Malcolm<o></o>
www.timberseek.com.au

Originally Posted by malhyp

....................Your only other cheap alternative which is available in most states is Cypress Pine. its usualy around the $1.50 to $2.00 mark. its just hard to get it in long or set lengths........................

And it's an absolute bastard to nail, just loves splitting.

Mick

Also isn't there some environmental issues with Aust. Cypress not being a plantation timber and very slow growing?

Lolz so true, the last time I offered to help lay a cypress deck was in the 90s. It splits so easy, but the end results are well worth it. With o good decking oil, the colours are magnificent.

There is some plantation cypress around but its virtually impossible to tell if it is or isnt plantation. I know that Golden Cypress Timber Sales in Marysville VIC sells plantation cypress.

Cheers
Mally
www.timberseek.com.au

Originally Posted by malhyp

Lolz so true, the last time I offered to help lay a cypress deck was in the 90s. It splits so easy, but the end results are well worth it. With o good decking oil, the colours are magnificent.

There is some plantation cypress around but its virtually impossible to tell if it is or isnt plantation. I know that Golden Cypress Timber Sales in Marysville VIC sells plantation cypress.

Cheers
Mally
www.timberseek.com.au

This would be cupressus macrocarpa I suggest. Not callitris white/black cyprus.

Plantation callitris, I was told, will mature in 100 years (that may be an exaggeration meaning a very long time.