• Pressure-treated wood excels in exterior applications.lumber image by Kimberly Reinick from Fotolia.com
  
  Lumber is treated with several different chemical mixtures, all of which contain copper as the primary preservation agent. The chemical is infused into the lumber in a high-pressure bath, giving it the name "pressure treated." Chemicals applied under pressure penetrate the wood and do not just sit on the surface as the after-market solutions do, providing several advantages over nontreated lumber.
  
  

Rot Resistant

• Because of the addition of the chemical preservatives, pressure-treated wood possesses superior resistance to rot caused by water than does nontreated wood.
  
  

Bug Resistant

• Pressure-treated lumber contains chemicals that make it useless as food for termites, fungi and other wood-eating organisms.
  
  

Economical

• Pressure-treated wood is cheaper than wood that is naturally resistant to rot and bug infestation such as cedar and exotic hardwoods.
  
  

Ground Contact

• Wood that is pressure treated can be used in contact with the ground or in below-ground applications as well. These are the harshest conditions that wood can be exposed to, and nontreated wood will quickly begin to show signs of rot and bug infestation.