plastic base plate alternative to treated lumber?

15 years ago

Could this "recycled plastic lumber" 2x6 be an alternative to the new corrosive treated lumber as a base plate for walls?

Another poster said that the new environmentally friendly treatmented lumber isn't friendly... over time... to the steel fastners and so I am looking for an alternative.

But I think even redwood shipped to Mississippi would be cheaper than this plastic lumber.

Just looking for ideas...

Here is a link that might be useful: plastic lumber

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Comments (3)

meldy_nva
15 years ago
As far as I've been able to determine, you have put your finger on the main problem of plood -- $$$. With a tremendous amount of time and effort, it is possible to find guaranteed plood to suit almost any building situation that would use the equivalent wood. And considering how many types of plood have been in use for the past 30 years, there has certainly been sufficient time to discover the flaws. And they do have flaws of stress or compression (okay, so does wood) which requires in-depth knowledge of the product.

A pal was interested so I did a lot of research about 10 years ago, and found that nearly every portion of building which used wood *could* use plood; however the cost was astronomical, and one was totally dependent upon the reliability of the particular manufacturer -- i.e. you mostly had to take his word for component strengths. That sort of dependence always makes me nervous, and while I gave my pal the complete set of reports, references and contacts, I did not give my enthusiasm. No doubt things have improved in the past decade, but I'm still leery of extreme uses, and I include weight-bearing wall bases in that category.

One avoids component incompatibility with the use of neutral interventions or by using an impervious material for joining. Stainless steel nails and fasteners ($$) are usually recommended for use with copper-impregnated woods. Finebuilding has a nice little article about it. Keep in mind that while copper compounds are not quite so injurious as the arsenic compounds previously used to treat wood, they are NOT a totally safe replacement.

You might find borate-treated woods to be of more use and less problem. link is for general info only.

Here is a link that might be useful: about borate-treated woods
thull
15 years ago
I assume you're talking about a mud sill, although I suppose it could be the bottom of walls over slab-on-grade.

The plastic-based lumber might tend to creep (i.e. change shape) under load over time.

You could track down some of the borate-treated lumber if you want to invest the time. Or just make sure the anchors are hot-dip galvanized. And companies like Maze make compatible nails for use in a framing nail gun.

See the link for the short version of what was in Fine Homebuilding

Here is a link that might be useful: FH link
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vancleaveterry
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you Melody and Thull

plastic base plate alternative to treated lumber?

Comments (3)

meldy_nva

thull

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plastic base plate alternative to treated lumber?

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meldy_nva

thull

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