pressure treated

[ph34r]

can i use 2x4 PT boards to build an outdoor enclosure, if the answer is no why would that be

 

[carol5208]

yes, I have that type of wood in mine and it is stained too. Check out my album you can see a pic.

 

[Wykd]

Treated lumber is toxic. It contains large amount of arsenic and heavy metals (chromium) such as copper.

Go with untreated and either paint it or Polycrylic it.

 

[ph34r]

well lowes here makes a pre stained pt deck boards so i was hoping toi use them.

and carol ive seen you cage and i love it just wasnt sure on the materials you used

 

[carol5208]

Treated lumber is toxic. It contains large amount of arsenic and heavy metals (chromium) such as copper.

Go with untreated and either paint it or polyurethane it.

maybe mine is untreated but it is stained.I am sure stain is toxic and my chameleons are fine. My daughter and her boyfriend built the cage for me. If it is outside though in the fresh air, what can happen to the chameleon?

 

[carol5208]

well lowes here makes a pre stained pt deck boards so i was hoping toi use them.

and carol ive seen you cage and i love it just wasnt sure on the materials you used

unless you are worried about your chameleons eating the wood, then I would not worry about it. It is going to be outside and it will be aired out all the time. JMO

 

[Wykd]

My only concern is new board from lowes/hd etc.. freshly pt wood. will leach for a couple months and thats when the toxins are a concern imo. ie if it gets wet and its leaching treatment as it cures then it would taint the water. Water pools on the leaves and the cham drinks and gets poisoned etc.. is where i am going thought wise.

The stain soaks into wood and while it may be toxic its not something that leaches out like a fresh pt does, if that makes sense? Paint and Polycrylic also have toxins in them but they dont leach out the chemicals. Also freshly cut 2x4 usually made of pine their sap/moisture is a mild toxin I believe.

You can always go with plastic lumber... google it, its recycled or composite, pvc type lumber. It cost a bit more but is going to outlive any of us.

 

[carol5208]

My only concern is new board from lowes/hd etc.. freshly pt wood. will leach for a couple months and thats when the toxins are a concern imo. ie if it gets wet and its leaching treatment as it cures then it would taint the water. Water pools on the leaves and the cham drinks and gets poisoned etc.. is where i am going thought wise.

The stain soaks into wood and while it may be toxic its not something that leaches out like a fresh pt does, if that makes sense? Paint and polyurethane also have toxins in them but they dont leach out the chemicals. Also freshly cut 2x4 usually made of pine their sap/moisture is a mild toxin I believe.

You can always go with plastic lumber... google it, its recycled or composite, pvc type lumber. It cost a bit more but is going to outlive any of us.

never thought about that!!! I see what you are saying. I was thinking about them eating it! lol. They have been known to munch on things!!

 

[Wykd]

cheap and safe route... un treated 1x1 then stain it if you want and coat it to seal it with a polycrylic. Or some thomson water seal to coat it, but its costly compared to a small can of polycrylic since its just 1x1's not alot to cover.

 

[ph34r]

ok thanks for ths input, as for that composite stuff the price of that stuff is astronomical so that is just out of the question. as for the PT lumber what if its been sitting in an indoor lumber yard wouldn't that dry it out somewhat ? and what if i sealed the PT so it cant seep out ? also hes not reallt going to be able to come in direct contact with the wood so will it still be an issue?

 

[Wykd]

There are other types of plastic lumber other than the high dollar composite decking. Go to the moulding section of lowes... there are pvc 1x1, 2x4's etc in most lowes anyways. I know that we used some of the pvc brick moulding on a frame for my bud's outside iguana cage.

The stock at lowes/hd turns over really quick so any sitting there is goingto be really fresh in most cases. Wood that had been stored outside would be more suitable imo, because the temp's would already started to impact the wood. It will have started to warp if it was going to and leech out its treatment in the ran/sun. Its stored inside to keep the wood as fresh as possible, but soon as its out in the sun etc.. it starts changing.

Its not that the reptile will come in direct contact its the water/treatment mixing and dripping into the cage on the leaves etc... and him drinking it.

I am sure ppl have done it and it worked for them, just advising of the toxins on the treatment of wood. Arsenic is a primary ingredient in poison and in the pressure treatment process.

ok thanks for ths input, as for that composite stuff the price of that stuff is astronomical so that is just out of the question. as for the PT lumber what if its been sitting in an indoor lumber yard wouldn't that dry it out somewhat ? and what if i sealed the PT so it cant seep out ? also hes not reallt going to be able to come in direct contact with the wood so will it still be an issue?

 

[ph34r]

ok thanx ill have to look at that other material and see if i can price it out for decent cost. its not that i really mind spending the extra cash but any penny saved can buy me other things for my cham. i will also have to look at the few lumber yards here with the outdoor lots to see if i can find something a little more weather beaten