Does Wood in the Basement Have to Be Treated?

Pressure-Treated Wood

• One way you can treat the wood in your basement is to have it pressure treated. You can buy pressure-treated wood at most home improvement warehouses and lumber yards. Having pressure-treated wood in your basement protects wood surfaces from damage and attack against moisture and light water damage. Pressure treating wood involves using chemical preservatives to preserve wood. Vacuum and pressure are applied to the wood, forcing the preservatives into the wood grain and making it less susceptible to damage from fungus, mold, moisture and various insects.

Stains

• If you already have an unfinished or finished basement in place, you can use a stain to protect existing wood structures and beams. Stains that treat wood surfaces contain a variety of chemicals that reduce the risk of mold infestation, yeasts and mildew formation. Stains can be easily applied with a paintbrush or roller but take several days to dry completely. Applying a stain to existing wood beams and joists in your basement can be challenging, especially if the basement is already damp or if moisture is present.

Prevention

• Keeping your basement wood treated is important for the overall health of your family. Treated wood can prevent the onset of allergies and mold exposure. One of the biggest health problems related to a wet basement is mold illness. Once mold forms inside your walls and on untreated basement wood, you can begin to show signs of mold exposure. Some symptoms can be severe such as headache, weight loss, skin rashes, vomiting, nose bleeds, asthma, itchy skin and breathing problems, notes the BioSign Laboratory Corporation website.

Precaution

• Newly treated lumber can give off fumes that could be harmful to your health. Some common chemicals inside the treated wood include chromium and arsenic. Prolonged or direct exposure to some of the chemicals found in pressure-treated wood have been linked to serious health conditions such as cancer. You should use gloves when working with wood that has been treated chemically. Covering the exposed wood with drywall or paneling will help prevent contact.