Pro deck builders seem to have a good handle on the differences between above-ground (AWPA UC3B) and ground-contact (AWPA UC4A) pressure-treated lumber. But general contractors and DIYers? Not so much, according to a recent report from Spectrum Consulting. It conducted research related to the two types of pressure-treated wood in early 2017 that included four focus-group sessions with a mix of contractors and DIYers who had recently built decks. Spectrum also conducted interviews with building material retailers, code officials, and professional deck builders. The goal of the study was to see if AWPA’s revised Use Category system (adopted in July 2016) helps prevent the improper use of above-ground material in applications that probably require ground-contact PT lumber.
To differentiate between the two categories, consumers have to check the end-tag label that is attached to each piece of PT lumber. But Spectrum says that 90% of the participants in their focus groups didn’t even notice the tags, and 75% of them didn’t understand how to read them. Another finding: Only 47% of code officials were aware of the AWPA’s new guidelines, and only 65% of them were aware of the differences between ground-contact and above-ground pressure-treated lumber. Pro deck builders fared a lot better in the study: 100% of them knew that there was a difference between the two types of lumber, and knew where and when to use each.
