For more than 70 years, the only material available for building decks was treated lumber. A few builders would occasionally use redwood or cedar, but the availability and cost of both species made that impractical for most U.S. builders.
Treated pine lumber, on the other hand, was affordable and readily available, so it quickly became the go-to deck building material.
But treated lumber has proven to be far from perfect.
The problem with treated lumber
First of all, the protective treatment’s penetration in traditional lumber varies greatly by wood species, often as little as 1/4˝ from the surface—despite proper pre-conditioning and incising. Cross-cuts instantly expose treated lumber to additional damage, rot and decay because the interior of the lumber simply isn’t protected.
Secondly, treated lumber is solid wood, which makes it highly susceptible to warping after it leaves the mill and is stored at a distributor’s or dealer’s location. Every deck builder knows the frustration of culling through treated lumber for joists and beams that aren’t twisted, bowed or cupped. Even then, workers often have to correct joists with crowns to create a flat, level deck surface.
Now there’s a superior option
Today there is finally not only an alternative, but a superior option: PWT Treated LVL.
The TRU-CORE® Technology treatment used in the manufacture of PWT Treated LVL to prevent damage is in itself revolutionary. And the treatment penetrates throughout every component because it’s applied between the veneers during the manufacturing process.
That difference alone sets PWT Treated LVL apart.
But the real game-changer is that PWT makes all the advantages and benefits of LVL available in exterior construction applications—like decks.
What makes PWT Treated LVL better
The advantages of PWT Treated LVL really add up:
- Because it’s composed of layers of veneer bonded together under heat and pressure, PWT Treated LVL resists warping, movement and shrinking.
- It features the TRU-CORE Technology treatment—which permeates between the veneer layers during the manufacturing process—and comes with a 25-year warranty against damage from decay, fungal rot and wood-destroying insects.
- It’s manufactured in large billets that can be cut down into a range of widths and lengths. That means deck builders have a wider selection of sizes, so they can use longer deck beams to create uninterrupted sight lines with fewer column supports.
- Because it’s LVL, PWT Treated LVL beams, ledgers and joists deliver greater strength and load capacities, which are critical to the performance and safety of the entire deck system.
- PWT Treated LVL is a total substructure solution because it can be used for deck joists, beams, ledgers, stair stringers and bridging.
- PWT Treated LVL is the perfect match for composite decking surfaces such as Trex®, TimberTech®, AZEK®, Fiberon® and others.
- Unlike traditional treated lumber, PWT Treated LVL can be painted or stained immediately at the time of installation. There’s no need to wait to finish the job.
The deck solution that builders—and their clients—have been waiting for
You might wonder why it’s taken so long for a treated LVL to be developed. The answer: it’s hard. But now PWT has figured out how to do it and do it right—which changes everything for deck builders.
Because the deck builder’s clients now demand more, and they’ve learned from composite decking surfaces to expect long-lasting performance and minimal maintenance. They also expect more innovation and greater flexibility in the overall design and construction from architects and builders.
PWT Treated LVL delivers on all of those demands. It also gives the deck builder major advantages over competitors. And that’s why the arrival of PWT Treated LVL signals a true revolution in the deck building industry. For more information, visit https://pwtewp.com/products/pwt-treated/.
