So many of my clients are surprised that the little sapling they planted is now a huge tree. It's important when you plan your garden and start planting trees to understand how big they will grow and to keep them maintained in a way that supports how you use your garden. Arborists can help your tree grow in the shape and direction that you want so that the garden is perfect for your family. My blog has tips for the home owner on keeping your tree healthy and, of course, tips on when to use an arborist to get the perfect result.
Construction & Contractors Articles
Popularly used in many outdoor applications, treated pine is an ideal choice for a treehouse. If you are thinking about building a treehouse or a playhouse for your kids, treated pine may be the best option. Here are five reasons why you want it included in your project:
1. Treated pine is affordable
One of the reasons treated pine is so popular in building projects is its cost. This wood is typically cheaper than alternatives such as oak. Pine trees grow quickly, making it easy to replace this type of wood, and because pine can be grown in Australia, you do not have to indirectly pay for international transportation costs as you would with wood sourced outside of Australia.
2. Treated pine is lightweight
In addition to being relatively affordable, treated pine is also lightweight. If you are hoisting wood up to a tree to build a platform, it will be easier if the wood is lighter.
Light wood makes the construction process easier, but it is also easier on the tree where you are building the treehouse. By using lightweight wood, you reduce the stress of the load on the tree itself. The lightweight nature of treated pine also means that you can add more wood to your treehouse than you would be able to if you were using a heavier wood. Essentially, you can build a larger house that weighs as much as a smaller one would if built with heavy wood.
3. Treated pine is relatively soft
In addition to being lightweight, treated pine is a relatively soft wood. Its soft nature doesn't make it less strong – clearly, people use pine all the time for decks and balconies, and historically, it was used for ship hulls. All of those instances can be used to illustrate its strength.
However, without sacrificing strength, its soft nature makes it easier to work with. You are likely to find cutting and shaping the wood to be less strenuous, and if your kids help with the building portion of the project, they are likely to have a much easier time drilling holes or pounding nails into treated pine than hardwoods.
4. Treated pine withstands the elements
Treated pine can withstand the elements. Rain, snow and the sun's harsh rays can beat down on your treehouse with a minimum of damage. When you use treated pine, you don't have to worry about the weather damaging the wood, and you can easily seal, stain or paint your treated pine tree house to give it an extra layer of protection from the elements.
5. Treated pine may help to repel mosquitos
Pine has the natural ability to repel mosquitos, and although you cannot guarantee that your children's playhouse will be completely free of insects, you can rest assured that the pine may reduce the number of mosquitoes in that space. By using a material that naturally keeps potentially harmful insects away, you make the treehouse safer for your kids.
6. Treated pine is now safer
In the past, many people were worried about the elements used to treat pine. In particular, arsenic was used in the process, and as of 2005, families were advised to stop using treated pine for playhouses or other applications involving children. That same year, the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority began working on the process of removing toxins from pine treated in Australia, and thanks to the efforts of that organisation and others, you can now buy treated pine that is safer. If possible, look for pine treated with ACQ instead of CCA. ACQ doesn't contain arsenic, and as a result, it's ideal for your treehouse.
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17 April 2015
