In December 2003, The Pressure Treated Wood Industry agreed to stop treating Southern Yellow Pine and other lumber with chromium and arsenic. CCA was the chemical combination used for years and at .6 pounds per cubic foot, the lumber was rated for ground contact and was used when building a deck directly on grade.
The new treatment chemicals used are no longer suitable for ground contact and we no longer place our decks on the ground. We either must dig down to clear all dirt away from the deck frame or we build a patio. Shown, is a Belgard concrete paver patio with a retaining wall and fire pit. Many new possibilities will arise from products like this and we will be writing more about them in the months to come. 
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