Treated wood vs non-treated ?

[David R]

Yes but not enough to make a difference.

I disagree, there's a reason they put bitumen paper under the framing for houses where it sits on the concrete slab, despite it being in a [supposedly] completely dry environment and the framing being made from treated timber (at least here in NZ).

But as I said, it depends entirely on the kind of timber and the kind of treatment you're talking about. If you're using some kind of hardwood you'll be fine, but for soft wood like Pinus radiata (which is the most common timber used here, almost exclusively) you would be foolish not to use treated timber for at least the bottom plate of the stand, preferably the whole thing if you're not going to paint/seal it.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; The home improvement shows and sites often say to use treated wood or a barrier for any wood that touches cement or concrete. Cement/concrete does hold or wick moisture even if it is not visibly wet. The wood that touches will be damaged over time if it is not protected.

For example the sill plate lumber that sits on the cement block wall of my house has an aluminum sheet between the wood and the cement. There are foam sheets available for the same purpose.

It is my understanding that treated wood has chemicals to help provide this protection. The chemicals used in the past were indeed a risk to the point that it was suggested to use protection to avoid breathing the dust when cutting the stuff. I believe, but you should confirm, that the current treatments are much safer.

In my 50+ years of keeping tanks I have found that things get and stay wet a lot. I know that many do not plan on having slow constant leaks or spills. I did not plan on them myself, but they have kept happening. I now do setups with the possibility of things being wet long term.

 

[DIDYSIS]

I would go with not treated. The water spill is very minimal and treated wood is far more cost. Overall I don't think its going to matter in the long run of things.

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[MonsterPeacock]

Buy non treated and stain the bottom feet and up the legs a foot or so and call it a done day.


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[dangerhack]

Buy non treated and stain the bottom feet and up the legs a foot or so and call it a done day.


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Sounds like a plan to me


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[Anchovie]

Licensed contractor here... Always pressure treated lumber if it is touching concrete. Concrete never "dries" it only hardens. Use pressure treated lumber for the bottom plates and go with standard hem fir lumber after that. There's really no debate about it, it's standard building code everywhere.


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[Anchovie]

Forgot to mention that any and all hardware touching concrete or pressure treated lumber needs to be galvanized, stainless steel, or epoxy coated


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[dangerhack]

Licensed contractor here... Always pressure treated lumber if it is touching concrete. Concrete never "dries" it only hardens. Use pressure treated lumber for the bottom plates and go with standard hem fir lumber after that. There's really no debate about it, it's standard building code everywhere.


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Thanks for the info really appreciate it.. I figured that .. I had to use pt wood for my shower in basement under were I built ledge inspector made me change it ... I'm def gonna use pt wood for base


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[Anchovie]

No prob. Iol I'm an aquarist noob but building is my livelihood


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[grgfishkeeper]

im a contractor my self... and i know we use a barrier between anything that touchs concrete yes, but riddle me this, i have a untreated/unfinished stand for my fish tank in my basment for years, and im not the only one.... my father built his stand 20- 25 years ago its untreated and has been sitting on a basement floor in the same spot with no barrier,

i think you would be just fine with out treated, now with that said if it was me and i was going to build it i would use treated on the floor the price is not going to kill the pocket book for 1-2 extra boards and it peace of mind,

and also the comment about the chemicals in the treated wood, i went to a siminar where a scientice explained that burning the wood is the worest release of the chemicals in the lumber, but for it to even be some what harmful for you you would have to burn way to much of it, dont remmember the numbers... and that you would most likly die from the smoke before you would the chemicals