Wood has been a popular building material but in certain conditions is subject to decay and damage from insects. The useful life of wood can be extended from ten to twenty times by the pressure treating process thereby becoming a renewable material that can last long enough for a new tree to grow to replace it. Pressure treated wood conserves trees and it requires less energy to produce than other comparable building materials.

The process of pressure treating wood involves placing lumber into a horizontal cylinder. The cylinder door is sealed and CCA is pumped into the cylinder. The pressure in the cylinder is raised thereby forcing the preservative into the wood fiber.

At the end of the process, the excess liquid is pumped back into a storage tank for reuse. A final vacuum pulls any excess liquid out of the wood. The dry lumber is removed from the cylinder. After verifying that the lumber is dry, it is ready to ship.

"Through the use of preservatives in pressure-treated lumber for fences, porches, decks, and homes, we have saved a forest of trees two times the size of New England."

Quote from Dr. Dixy Lee Ray, in her 1990 book Trashing The Planet. Dr. Ray is the former governor of Washington and a noted scientist.