New Trailers

[Terri]

Most of the new trailers that I am looking into have pressure treated wood for the flooring. Am I okay keeping this for my floor and possibly covering it or should we rip it out and put non pressure treated down? I know that new pt wood does not contain the chemicals of the old stuff, but want to be safe....on the other hand it is already there and changing it would mean spending more time and money. I would appreciate some input.

[S. Heisley]

My two cents ....Use the old adage: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Besides, the wood floor should be covered up on the inside with vinyl or something and I doubt the outside will matter much, if at all, as long as it is protected from rot and water seepage.
If you really worry about the "out" side, you could probably coat it with some undercarriage spray, purchased at the auto parts store.

You'll already have "out-gassing" from all the other products, vinyl flooring, glues, etc, that you'll need to open your windows anyway.
Open your windows/doors frequently to change out the air, bringing in new, fresher air, especially when it is still new.

[Terri]

Thank you Sharon!

[mezmo]

Hi Terri,

PT wood is not meant for interior use. It will off-gas its chemicals.
Do you really want to sleep 8 hours a night breathing that ? Even
'diluted' with outside air It would have health consequences in my
view. Avoid it totally and use non-treated wood if you will use
wood as the flooring base.

Look up the problems the FEMA trailers caused for those living
in them after Hurricane Katrina etc.. It'd be along the same lines.

When PT wood is used for floors in a Cargo Trailer, it is used with
the understanding that it is a non-inhabited space.

I don't think sealing it or covering it with a continuous membrane
type flooring, like sheet vinyl, would totally eliminate its drawbacks.
Just avoid it altogether.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Terri]

Thank you Norm. I appreciate the advice.