Let your Fairfax, VA Deck Builder Inspect your Deck for Arsenic
NOVA Deck Dr, a deck builder in Fairfax, VA, warns homeowners that their old deck may contain deadly arsenic.
Hal Co is a reputable deck builder serving Fairfax, VA residents for over 33 years. We offer:
- Quality design, selection, installation and related services for your deck in Fairfax, VA following the highest safety procedures and industry standards.
- In partnership, we will evaluate your deck project requirements and develop a comprehensive installation plan.
- Personalized customer service before, during and after installing your deck in Fairfax, VA to minimize your disruption and maximize your comfort.
That is because the wood used to build wood decks was usually pressure–treated with a chemical called Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). While manufacturers stopped using CCA in late 2003, there are still an estimated 20 million decks still in use today that contain CCA.
A recent study from the University of Florida has revealed that pressure washing your old deck (built in 2004 or earlier) could be very hazardous to your health. That is because pressure washing releases a much higher level of arsenic – 3 times as much as people are normally exposed to on their decks. Arsenic can be readily absorbed into the skin, and the water that runs off during pressure washing also sends arsenic into the ground around your home.
Adding bleach while pressure washing a CCA–treated deck exacerbates the situation. When mixed with water and exposed to CCA–treated wood, a harmful chemical called chromium was created.
Researchers at UF recommend that homeowners with decks built with CCA–treated wood have their decks replaced as soon as possible. Until that deck is replaced, they should not pressure wash their deck and instead have it sealed by experts in deck care.
For more information about CCA–treated decks – caring for your current deck or replacing it – please contact your deck builder in Fairfax, VA, Hal Co Fence. The complete deck specialists at NOVA Deck Dr. will be happy to inspect your deck for free and provide you with an estimate for sealing or replacement. Please contact Hal Co Fence today.