Well here we go……..Harriet and I decided after Wilma and many Bromeliad meetings that we were going to build our  ownshadehouse. It is laid out as a 16 x 12 foot structure at the side of our house, using the house and a front fence as two sides. It will be about 7 foot high with 75% shade cloth on top and down four feet on one side. The structure is supported by thirteen 4x4x8 pressure treated wood poles anchored in cement in the ground. I have read innumerable bromeliad referenced warning about PT wood. But no references gives the answer to we poor South Floridians that must use this kind of wood to prevent deterioration by weather, hurricanes and insects. Wilma taught us that plastic and piping are no match for Mother Nature.

So, after much on-line searching I found articles from North Carolina State which states, after extensive tests, that sealing the PT wood with a water base stain will reduce the chromated cooper arsenate ( acc) effect by 98% for two years; after which time any stain or paint will continue the reduction for the life of the structure. ( Also reference Consumer Safety Commission 42 page report at  www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia05/os/ccamitig.pdf    

Con’t

 

 

Inspiration comes to life

Building your first shade house

By Larry Davis & Harriet Abo