It is no secret that pressure-treated wood is usually cheaper than untreated wood. However, that often catches most people off-guard. After all, pressure-treated wood has a long list of benefits.
Why is pressure-treated wood cheaper than untreated wood if thatโs the case? Shouldnโt it be the other way around? After all, it is treated, whereas the other wood isnโt.
Nevertheless, there is no need to worry about this supposed contradiction. After all, hereโs a discussion that seeks to resolve the confusion. So, check it out for factual and exciting answers to our million-dollar question.
1. What is Wood Pressure Treatment?
Due to the mention of the word pressure, curiosity normally arises regarding what this process entails. First, it usually means infusing wood to be treated using chemical preservatives. All this process occurs in pressurized tanks, hence the name.
In other words, this process involves pressure. Its role is to remove air while replacing it with chemical preservatives. Consequently, the chances of rotting or insect damage will reduce significantly.
Most of these chemicals often include copper. After all, it is a natural biocide suitable for the job at hand.
2. Various Reasons Pressure-treated Wood is Cheaper than Untreated Wood
The reasons you pay less for pressure-treated wood than its untreated counterparts include the following;
2.1 Durability
This aspect of durability makes pressure-treated wood relatively cheap in the long run. In other words, despite seeming costly initially, its durability makes it quite affordable.
Remember that this wood undergoes chemical treatment. Consequently, it becomes quite resistant to insect damage and rot. Arenโt these the two major issues that jeopardize any woodโs durability?
Therefore, you wonโt need to replace your wood often. So, thatโs one answer to our question: why is pressure-treated wood cheaper than untreated wood?
2.2 Maintenance
This aspect is also similar to durability when comparing pressure-treated wood and untreated wood. The latter is prone to insect damage and rot. Therefore, a need to repair or replace it often arises.
Consequently, one spends a substantial amount of money maintaining untreated wood. Thatโs not the case when dealing with pressure-treated wood. So, it becomes way cheaper to maintain it than its untreated counterpart.
2.3 Type of Wood
Why is pressure-treated wood cheaper than untreated wood? Pressured-treated wood often uses wood species such as pine. These species are known for being cheap, thus translating to a less expensive end product such as the pressure-treated wood. It explains why its price is relatively low.
Species such as pine grow quite fast; hence, it is reasonable to sell them cheaply. They are also readily available, hence cost-effective despite being less expensive.
On the other hand, untreated wood consists of hardwood species, which are quite expensive. Consequently, you must dig deeper into your pocket to afford them. No wonder pressure-treated wood is cheaper than untreated wood.
2.4 Demand
Demand is a crucial aspect of the market dynamics. Its role in determining the cost of a product is indisputable. The popularity of pressure-treated wood, especially when working on outdoor construction projects, is indisputable. Most people will go for them when constructing fences and decks.
Consequently, the demand is usually high, thus leading to mass production. Interestingly, there are production methods that are effective enough to facilitate such production at a relatively low price.
So, why is pressure-treated wood cheaper than untreated wood? It turns out that its huge demand is one of the factors contributing to the fair prices.
2.5 Supply
Despite the high demand for pressure-treated wood, its supply is enough. After all, these types of wood species are readily available. They are easy to cultivate and donโt take much time to mature.
Under such circumstances, it becomes easy to satisfy the pressure-treated wood market. It is no secret that supply is another market dynamic determining an itemโs cost. Since the supply of pressure-treated wood raw materials is high, its cost goes down.
3. When Should You Use Pressure-treated Wood?
There are various instances where pressure-treated wood is the best choice. Its major uses often revolve around outdoor structures, including the following;
- Decks
- Fencing
- Railings
- Walkways
4. When Shouldnโt You Use Pressure-treated Wood?
Even if pressure-treated wood is cheaper than untreated wood, there are instances when it isnโt an ideal choice. You shouldnโt consider it for any of the following purposes;
- Cabinets
- Flooring
- Interior furniture pieces
- Interior shelving units
- Walls
5. What Are the Advantages of Pressure-Treated Wood?
Besides being cheap and affordable, there are other advantages of pressure-treated wood. These benefits include the following;
- Since manufacturers often use pinewood, one can say that most pressure-treated wood is eco-friendly.
- Repairing pressure-treated wood is also cheap and easy if damages and accidents occur.
- Pressure-treated wood is quite versatile since it is suitable for staining and painting whichever color you prefer. However, you might think otherwise if you paint or stain a completely dry one, so avoid that at all costs.
- There are various insects, including termites, that damage wood. Fortunately, the pressure-treated woodโs chemicals have repelled them, thus avoiding such damage.
- It is also quite durable and hence requires rare replacement and minimal maintenance.
- Its strength makes it quite resistant to dents and scratches. Therefore, it still looks good after its installation with little wear and tear.
- Remember that pressure-treated wood is cheaper than untreated wood. Therefore, it becomes affordable, especially with a small budget.
6. What Are the Advantages of Pressure-Treated Wood?
It is no secret that pressure-treated wood is cheaper than untreated wood. However, the option also has a share of drawbacks, including the following;
- It contains chemicals used during treatment, which can contaminate your food and water. It releases these toxins into the air as one burns, trims, or cuts the pressure-treated wood.
- It requires annual application of penetrating sealers and staining to avoid stains and blemishes. That can be quite demanding, especially for people on a tight schedule.
- It can dry or split due to exposure to alternating wet and dry seasons. Therefore, you must regularly check that to repair such issues on time.
Final Words: Why Is Pressure-Treated Wood Cheaper than Untreated Wood?
The above discussion answers specific questions to help one decide wisely. For instance, why is pressure-treated wood cheaper than untreated wood? It turns out there are several reasons which are positive for the record.
It turns out that pressure-treated wood is cheap in the short and long term. After all, it is cheap, durable, and easy to maintain.
Nevertheless, remember only to use it for its ideal uses. After all, its suitability differs from one instance to another.
Last Updated on by Kirti Chhikara21
