Pressure Treated Wood FAQ’s

AC2® is a registered trademark of Menards. AC2® pressure treated wood products are treated with Micronized Copper Azole.
AC2® treated wood products are produced by Midwest Manufacturing. © 6/2020
Q11. My deck has not kept its original pressure treated wood color. How can I restore the appearance of the treated wood?
Wood deck cleaning products are available. These products may be referred to as cleaners, brighteners, or restorers. Always follow the
manufacturer’s recommendations.
Q12. Can I use a pressure washer on pressure treated wood?
Yes, follow the pressure washer manufacturer’s recommendations and guidelines. Wood can be damaged if these instructions are not followed.
Q13. What fasteners or hardware should I use with treated wood?
AC2 ® wood treated with MicroPro technology offers many benets including signicantly improved corrosion rates on metal products. Use fasteners
and hardware that are in compliance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and the building codes for their intended use. Where design and/or
actual conditions allow for constant, repetitive or long periods of wet conditions, only stainless steel fasteners should be used.
Q14. Can pressure treated wood posts be buried or installed in concrete?
AC2® pressure treated wood posts produced for “Ground Contact Use” can be placed in the ground with or without the use of concrete.
(When placing a pressure treated wood post in the ground, the freshly cut end should not be place in, or on the ground. Orient the posts so
that the original factory-treated ends are in contact with the ground.)
Q15. Can treated wood be used in contact with manure or compost?
We do not recommend this use for treated wood, however if AC2® treated wood products are used for this application, it is suggested that all
of the treated wood products be treated for “Ground Contact” end use.
Q16. Can treated wood be used for raised vegetable beds or around my grape vines?
AC2® treated wood products may be used to construct raised bed gardens. The treated wood process is certied by Scientic Certication
Systems, Inc. (SCS) as an Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) based on SCS’ Life-Cycle Assessment.
If AC2® treated wood products are used for this application, it is suggested that all of the treated wood products be treated for “Ground
Contact” end use.
Very small amounts of copper and azole may migrate out of AC2® treated wood over time. If it is desirable to minimize the migration of these
components into the soil of a raised bed garden, we recommend that a suitable thin plastic material be used as a barrier between the treated
wood and the raised bed garden soil.
The use of a plastic barrier will also help keep the raised bed garden soil within the bed area. For proper drainage, the plastic material should
not be used underneath the raised bed garden soil.
Q17. Is it safe to use treated wood in a picnic table or on countertops?
AC2® pressure treated wood products can be used for outdoor picnic tables. We recommend that the
picnic table be covered to prevent food from contacting the wood surface. It is not recommended that any
treated wood product be used as a countertop. Do not put food directly in contact with treated wood.
Q18. Can I use treated wood in feed troughs for livestock?
Do not use preserved wood under circumstances where the preservative may become a component of
food, animal feed, or beehives.
Q19. How does mold affect wood?
Mold occurring on pressure treated wood products is typically not an indication of fungal decay attack.
Mold growth can and does occur on the surface of many products, including untreated and treated wood,
during prolonged surface exposure to excessive moisture conditions. To remove mold from the treated
wood surface, wood should be allowed to dry. Typically, mild soap and water can be used to remove
remaining surface mold. For more information visit www.epa.gov
Q20. Do your pressure treated wood products contain formaldehyde?
Koppers wood preservative products do not contain formaldehyde. However, glues used to produce
plywood, glue laminates, and other engineered wood products may contain formaldehyde. Contact the
engineered wood producer for information regarding the use of formaldehyde in their products.
Q21. Is AC2® pressure treated wood available with a water repellent?
Yes. Check with your building material supplier for availability.
Q22. Is the AC2® wood preservative system in the current AWPA standards?
Yes. The MCA preservative used in AC2® is an American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) standardized wood preservative.
Q23. Are AC2® treated wood products available in different colors?
AC2® CedarTone lumber is color infused with a rich color, similar to Coastal Western Cedar which provides pleasing aesthetic performance for
the rst two years following completion of the outdoor project. The MicroShades in-solution color pigment system is pressure treated into the
wood with the durability and protection of AC2®.