Durability - green sleepers are highly durable and are often more resistant to decay than brown sleepers, especially when used in damp or ground-contact environments. Uses - green sleepers are commonly used in structural applications, such as retaining walls, fencing, and steps, where durability is paramount.
The green treated sleepers are better suited to darker back drops, whilst the brown treated sleepers are fantastic at adding contrast to lighter gardens.
Once treated, green and brown timber are usually labelled with a UC3 or UC4 rating. The latter is a more harsh treatment than the former and is for use on wood that is in permanent contact with the ground (such as fence posts). The former is for wood that is not in contact with the ground such as fence panels.
This may be surprising – although perhaps not? But brown timber is almost the same as green timber, except for only 1 thing. A brown dye is added to the copper preservative mix. It should be noted that this isn't just a dye, but instead is another additive in the treatment process.
Both green and brown treated timber will weather, initially to a honey brown colour before finishing up silvery grey unless stains or paints are applied.
Your Sleepers can last up to 10 years with easy care, like adding a Green Treatment once a year. Tanalith E Pressure Treatment on Sleepers = Low Maintenance. Garden Sleepers stay Rot-free and look good.
However, if you've noticed green marks on your pressure-treated timber, you might be wondering what they are and whether they pose any concerns. These green marks are quite common and are a result of the treatment process that the wood undergoes to make it more resistant to the elements.
Mold can begin to grow on green lumber before it is even used in construction. Airborne mold spores are found almost everywhere, and they can easily cause mold growth on wet wood surfaces, especially while it is being transported long distances by train; difficult to paint or stain.
The brown treated lumber starts as a dark brown and beautifully fades to a lighter, more natural wood color over time.
Most timberframes are made w green wood, it's not usually a problem if you erect soon after cutting. However milling lumber, or dressing out of greenwood is risky since things like doors need to operate w fairly tight tolerances and greenwood has a tendency to move as it dries out.
Although the brown colour varied somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer, in their attempt to differentiate themselves from one another, they were all basically brown— and regardless, their products all turned grey eventually, should there be no further protection at some point by means of a stain or paint.
Pine, cedar, Douglas fir, and hem-fir are the species that best absorb the pressure-treatment chemicals, making them ideal for long-lasting woodwork.
Note that the green tone of treated wood will fade as the wood ages, without any effect on the wood protection.
As a rule, hardwood oak sleepers tend to last the longest naturally with an expected lifespan of around 100 years. An untreated softwood will last for between three and five years if it sits on the ground, whilst treated softwoods can last between 20 and 30 years if they are maintained correctly.
Wood sleeper is the most widely used rail sleeper for now. In general, wood with high tenacity and good elasticity is the best material chosen to produce wood sleepers.
This green preservative will fade to a honey brown and finally to a silvery grey over several months, or can be easily stained using our wood treatments if a different colour is preferred to suit the space the sleepers are in, such as grey, black or cedar red.
All pressure-treated wood will cup, warp and twist if it's green treated or dried after treatment. But, by using KDAT Brown Treated Wood, as moisture is removed earlier in the process minimizes some of these potential problems associated with moisture.
Apply a high-quality oil-based (recommended) or water-based finish with UV protection to slow down the process of wood turning gray from exposure to the sun. Apply a water repellent sealer at least every two years. Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for new and re-application.
How Long Does Pressure-Treated Wood Last? It depends on the climate, the type of wood, its uses, and how well it's maintained. While pressure treated poles can stay up to 40 years without any signs of rot or decay, decks and flooring might only last around 10 years.
Pentachlorophenol-treated posts exhibited durability in excess of 60 years, whereas lumber specimens treated to standard ground-contact retentions had no failures after 39 or 45 years.
Green wood is often available in more types of wood than kind dried too. That being said, the cons outweigh the pros of using kiln dried wood. It has a high moisture content so it isn't ideal for burning and it has been linked to various health conditions too. It also has a negative impact on the environment.
The Green Lumber Fallacy refers to a kind of fallacy where one mistakes one important kind of knowledge for another; in other words, "mistaking the source of important or even necessary knowledge, for another less visible from the outside, less tractable one... how many things we call 'relevant knowledge' aren't so ...
Over time, the green will naturally blend into the wood's tone. However, if you encounter green growths like algae or mold, you can use deck cleaning solutions, power washers, or specialized products designed specifically for removing moss and algae from pressure-treated wood.
The best paint to use for pressure-treated wood is high quality, exterior latex paint (avoid using oil-based paints). Exterior latex paint is a water-based paint which is perfect for your pressure-treated wood. When choosing a color, don't be afraid to dream big!
How to Tell if Wood is Pressure Treated. The two easiest ways to tell if the lumber has been treated are an end tag and a stamp on the piece of wood in question. The tag should be at the end of each piece of lumber and should mention the preservative used, the rating, and the preservation company.