DISCUSSION - EPL WOOD MAINTENANCE COATING

EPL WOOD MAINTENANCE COATING was designed for use on older pressure treated outdoor wood. This wood contains cca (chromated copper arsenate). The cca treatment insures extended life (free from rot) and thus structural integrity of this wood. It is not unusual for it to last decades. The cca does not protect the surface of the wood from erosion or splinters. The appearance likewise is not protected and will turn gray, black or fungal green. Also, you should not sand, burn or randomly dispose of cca treated wood. Our solution for these problems is simple and easy. First power wash the surface with water until it is clean. Make it a strong power wash. There is no way you can do this to aged wood without creating moderate to severe splintering of the surface. This is where EPL WOOD MAINTENANCE COATING comes in. You allow the surface scrubbed wood to dry and become splintered. This is actually the ideal surface for EPL. Apply two coats (allow to dry before recoat) of EPL and marvel at your accomplishment. Not only are the dangerous splinters sealed off, but also the wood will usually develop a brown look in many places due to the chrome in the cca. We strongly urge you to consider recoating (a single coat, with a preceding power wash) on an annual basis until the coating thickness becomes significant (4 mils). Each coating delivers about I mil thick plastic to the wood. It is not recommended you try to do it all the first year, but instead do it at the start of each season. Nature’s attack on your wood’s surface is relentless, but you can win this battle. Patience, persistence and EPL WOOD COATING are your means and method to overcome this attack. The saving of your outdoor wood is worth it. You can always have a layer of clear plastic between you and those harsh chemically laden splinters.

Since January of 2004, the government mandated all residential pressure treatment be changed away from cca. The majority of outdoor wood is now treated with acq (alkaline quaternary copper). A label on the end of the factory cut will identify this. This eliminated arsenic and chrome from the pressure treatment, but created other problems. It is much more corrosive to metal fasteners and some studies indicate it is less permanent. Water will wash it away faster. Application of EPL will resist this washout process and EPL retain these chemicals in your wood. Since the chrome was eliminated, we see another difference from cca to acq. The wood surface turns black and gray with no brown hue. This can happen in as little as a few months. The best solution here is to wait several months for the ACQ wood to dry, then stain it before applying EPL.. Do a strong power wash, dry, apply a stain (with no wax content) and dry. Apply two coats of EPL. There is a little less bonding power, but again persistent seasonal reapplication will overcome this deficiency.

EPL is not recommended for dense hardwoods or cedar. These woods do not allow for deep penetration of EPL.