Madison Pressure Treated Deck Lumber

Madison Pressure Treated Deck Lumber Difference & Guide

Once a wood deck starts to degrade, and if the substructure is still intact, it’s time to consider re-planking the floor with premium pressure-treated deck boards. 

To much surprise, there are undoubtedly crucial differences in pressure-treated lumber. You can quickly head to your local home improvement store, but the quality is not always there. Large box stores often have treated lumber containing excessive wood knots and noticeable warping. Additionally, the prices at various locations are often inconsistent. 

Installing cheap lumber on your deck will cause premature wood rot and increased upkeep. On the other hand, quality wood is carefully and responsibly cut, grown, & processed. When you match that with a manufacturer that processes, stores, & delivers with care, you have a premium product that looks better and lasts longer.

Allow us to introduce Madison Wood! 

The History of Madison Wood

Since 1959, Madison has built their business on a reputation for quality products and services, producing the highest quality treated wood products. Madison also takes great care to respect trees and forests. Standing by their commitments to quality, safety, and environmentally sound production practices has been the cornerstone of their success.

Its stellar reputation as a state-of-the-art wood treating company has been maintained by steadily improving product lines for several decades. As one of the largest wood treating companies in the world, they regularly assess their material and treating methods. Determined to remain the leaders in their industry, they are constantly seeking ways to improve. 

Providing personal service to customers and only using wood sourced from top-quality mills are additional reasons for their success. Madison also stores lumber protected from the elements in a massive 180,000 square ft warehouse to ensure freshness and color consistency. 

Madison Wood is a licensed wood treating company creating nearly perfect boards for your deck replacement project. A local Madison distributer is American Cedar in Raleigh, NC, a premier source of quality building materials in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

Wherever your closest Madison Wood Preserver dealer is, you will know the treated lumber is handled professionally and sourced responsibly.

What Makes Madison Different

Madison’s treated wood is pressure treated and fortified better in nearly every way. All Madison lumber is treated to withstand ground contact. As a licensed producer of treated wood products, Madison Wood preserves some of the cleanest cut yellow pine that we have installed. 

For over 60 years, using MicroPro® technology has been an innovative way to treat wood. MicroPro provides many advantages, including considerably enhanced corrosion performance using micronized copper preservatives. This performance enhancement is ideal for deck flooring and structural deck elements, pathways, and other projects that demand durability and versatility. 

Using this class of lumber saves money over time by reducing the need to pressure wash and stain as frequently as lower-quality, untreated wood.

All Madison Treated lumber is processed to withstand ground contact. Pressure-treating all lumber to a high quality simplifies deck builders’ installation and placement process. Also, Madison Wood takes paint better once it’s thoroughly dried out.

Madison Wood leads the industry in wood preservation and continues to raise the bar. They also provide a comprehensive warranty for various treated wood grades that guarantees protection from termites and fungal decay.

Madison processes the best-treated wood products on the market, testing each board for quality and moisture content, and they evaluate additional visual elements. They also encourage and teach contractors and customers how to install treated wood products correctly. Madison’s education initiative is centralized in their MADWOOD certificate program. 

Madison Certifications

Although the treated wood industry has been around for over 70 years, the technologies and procedures constantly change. Madison Wood mainly created the MADWOOD Installer Certification to stimulate communications and centralize frequently asked questions addressing new installation guidelines. Certified Madwood installers have either passed the certification test with a 100% score or attended the group training. 

When selecting local deck builders, it’s critical that they understand best installation practices whether they claim certifications or not. A licensed general contractor will most likely understand best practices and see your deck replacement project through while incorporating both standard and innovative techniques. 

Why Treated Lumber for Decks?

When considering which materials to purchase for your deck, porch, and other outdoor spaces, it’s imperative to use quality pressure-treated wood that can withstand extended exposure to the elements. High-grade pressure-treated lumber will last multiple decades without rotting. However, untreated timbers will often rot sooner, even when adequately sealed and stained. 

Inspectors and professional deck builders understand that wood rot can lead to several safety hazards. If the supporting floor joists, ground posts, or other substructures contain wood rot, they must be replaced. 

Most pressure-treated lumber derives from Southern Yellow Pine or Douglas Fur. Treated southern yellow pine is sustainable, offering increased structural rigidity compared to cedar and other redwoods. Pine also costs significantly less than plastic composites or tropical hardwoods, and its popularity among customers remains consistent for these reasons.

Wood timbers are a renewable resource that lasts for years once treated, reducing the constant demand for trees. With fewer trees cut down and fewer plastics to dispose of, the planet is healthier overall. 

Ground Contact Treated Deck Lumber

Because of the particular demands of Madison Wood, you know the products you purchase from them are of the highest quality and will last a long time. 

Madison requires all certified dealers to provide an inventory containing ground contact lumber. Ground contact labeled timbers contain more preservatives .15 vs. 23 This increase makes the wood last longer in areas of constant moisture or shade. Customers don’t have to worry about the wood being saturated for too long, inadequate ventilation, or debris build-up; ground contact lumber is prepared to handle it all. 

American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) guidelines require Ground Contact General Use (UC4A) treated wood for installation in certain conditions. Ground Contact is needed when installing wood less than 6″ above the ground or used in an area without air circulation or water drainage. 

When structural rigidity relies on the board’s durability, the wood must be of ground contact grade. If vegetation or debris can build up on the wood, such as in tropical climates, treatment for ground contact is imperative. These standards also affect joists and beams used in above-ground decks and freshwater docks. 

Following these guides are essential to ensure a well-built structure that meets code.

Picking Quality Wood Decking

When choosing a source for your lumber, it’s best to be particular. Deck boards are not all processed the same, and quality standards will vary. 

Low-quality lumber found in big box stores will often pale compared to the wood sold by dedicated lumber dealers that specialize in high-grade materials. Leading the industry, specialists can guide you through the process to ensure the best possible outcome for your project.

Madison Wood delivers quality products for all of your wood and lumber needs. They process lumber for different loadings and retentions, incorporating quality preservatives for various applications. With a few different levels of ground contact, each end tag specifies whether they are ground contact or heavy-duty ground contact. The reference to AWPA on the label states the product meets the standard requirements and passed a quality inspection.

Premium-treated pine is economical and easy to cut and install, especially for non-professionals. However, some may argue that wood has several drawbacks. Everyone has an opinion, but sometimes the lack of knowledge and experience can alter judgment. 

Wood is wood, right? Reading this article, you already know that assumption is too broad. Yes, cheaply treated lumber rots and splits, but Madison Wood is much different. That statement is only valid when comparing timbers alike. Our rebuttal would be, ” The only like comparison is a similar piece of lumber that’s also ground contact grade containing zero wood knots. But comparing an apple and an orange is not a proper comparison.” 

Madison is a smaller company offering improved product quality control. Madisons’ #2 lumber frequently has fewer knots and imperfections than Home Depot and Lowe’s premium grade lumber by comparison. Madison’s lumber appears better, offering improved aesthetics for your outside spaces.

This premium, high-quality lumber will last longer, look better, and be more economical in the coming years.

2×6 Premium Wood Decking Materials

Madison has a wide range of lengths to choose from with no grade stamps on the top side, kerfs on the bottom side to reduce cupping, and MadGuard® Water Repellent to slow moisture intake. 

Madison’s high-grade 2×6 decking is made with kerfs to relieve stress on the wood, and even grade C is nearly free of knots and imperfections.

Quality means everything to Madison. SelectDeck™ is the highest grade 2×6 decking offered. This stunning product is less expensive than composite, ideal for increased decking rigidity, and meets the demands of residential and commercial decking projects.

The C-Grade SelectDeck™ will impress with its smooth texture, clean surface, and money-saving advantages. The Madison Wood team hand-selects each piece to choose the highest 2×6 wet decking product available on the market. They mill each board based on appearance, not grain, and deck builders really appreciate this special additional attention to detail.

The Takeaway

Whether it’s wood or whatever else you choose for your deck installation, it’s important to use top-quality materials. Your time, money, and efforts depend on it. 

Who wants accelerated farmed raised lumber with tons of knots and is pressure-treated by cutting corners? Take the plunge and consider premium wood, as it’s beneficial in many ways. Plus, you get to sit back and confidently enjoy the beautiful results for much longer!

For more deck-related articles, check out our related posts and archives. Or, see our social media channels for real-time installations!