The old CCA Pressure Treated wood could leach out Arsenic which you could possibly pick up on your hands and if you did not properly wash them might ingest some of that Arsenic. It tool some 50 years for the researchers to discover this about the CCA PT wood before it was removed from the market so it really remains to be seen about the others. The EPA seems to think that the concerns about the Arsenic were overblown now and it is considering allowing CCA PT wood back on the market. If Pressure Treated wood is used to make raised beds the plants that grow nearest that wood need special care in handling if that PT wood leaches some of the chemicals so you know they have been washed off. Plants generally do not pick up these heavy metals since they are not needed for growth.

Yup, like J. Hyatt says. In this area, though (NE) the contractor-type lumber yards all keep their PT lumber out doors. If it is fresh, it is very wet. It will need to dry out for a few months to take the stain properly. The DIY places (HD, etc) store it inside. It is already pretty dry.

Hey Scotty,Its not all that hard really, install the pt posts in the frame . Usually the decking goes on after that so protect the posts from the sun with white trash bags even that short 36'' of pt 4x4 will warp and twist in a short time. Because of the fast difference in size with the pt posts cut two rips 3 3/4'' and make sure even that is big enough, the other two can be the full 5 1/2.Dont try to miter these together I have found no matter how good its done a miter will move around down the road in the weather. So butt the 4 components with the 3 3/4 inside,I use tightbond111 and a senco pin nailer with 1 1/2'' loads. Predrill a pilot hole with a small bit,less than an 1/8'', into the 5 1/2'' sides. This predrill dosent have to go all the way thru just a 1/4'' or so, line up the tool with the hole and shoot them together. The senco piner I have has a really small nose and its really powerful,the normal like portercable tool wont work all that great for this so you might have to screw the wrapps together depending on the tools your guy has. The wrapps just slide over the top of the 4x4s,we install them the same way with construstion adhesive. There will be a little play between the post but thats better than having some of them come out too small depending on the size of the bad mill the 4x4s always have, just deal with it as you plum them in with a leval. John

MCQ requries no special finish. I use twp 100 series. John Hyatt www.deckmastersllc.com