A standards organization for wood preservation that publishes use categories describing where treated wood is suited, including ground contact.
The American Wood Protection Association, known as AWPA, describes itself as an organization that develops standards for wood preservation. Its use categories describe where treated lumber is suited, such as above ground, in ground contact or in freshwater. Treated lumber for fences usually carries a tag that refers to these categories, and owners in Nashville comparing posts and boards often see them.
We are an independent company and are not part of AWPA. We explain what the tags on treated lumber mean in plain terms and why posts set in soil need a ground-contact rating while pickets may not. We choose lumber for each use and discuss the fasteners that suit it, since treatment chemistry can affect how nails and screws hold up.
Visit the official AWPA website
Describe where treated wood is suited.
Needed for posts set in soil.
Suitable for many pickets and rails.
Labels show the rating of the lumber.
Hardware must suit the treatment.
Helps owners read lumber labels.
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Fence Budget PlannerPick a fence, gate, repair or finishing job, set the length and add extras to see a ballpark planning range. Placeholder values only.Try it It is a treated lumber rating for wood that touches soil, such as fence posts.
Posts should have a ground-contact rating. We choose lumber for each use.
No. We are an independent fence company and are not part of AWPA. We explain what it publishes in plain language and help you apply it to your own property.
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