Pressure-Treated Southern Yellow Pine
Pinus spp. (likely P. taeda or P. echinata) • Softwood
Grain Pattern
Generally straight grain with a coarse, uneven texture. Face grain shows typical cathedral patterns in flat-sawn sections, while the end grain reveals relatively wide growth rings typical of fast-growing plantation timber.
Color Description
Originally a yellowish-white with a greenish tint from chemical treatment (chromated copper arsenate or micronized copper). The sample has aged to a weathered silver-gray with significant biological staining, algae growth, and lichen colonization.
Hardness Rating
690 lbf (Soft)
Durability Rating
Durable (Treated); natural untreated heartwood is only moderately durable, but chemical impregnation makes it resistant to rot, termites, and fungal decay in exterior ground-contact or above-ground applications.
Common Uses
Outdoor construction, decking, fencing, landscape timbers, retaining walls, and utility poles.
Geographic Origin
Southeastern United States
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$1.00 - $2.50 per board foot (standard dimensional lumber pricing)
Wood Age Estimate
10-20 years based on the deep silver-gray oxidation, presence of lichen, and surface checking/cracking visible at the miter joint.
Sustainability Status
Highly sustainable; managed plantation species that are widely available and FSC certified.
Workability
Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Responds well to fasteners, though it can split easily if not pre-drilled. The presence of chemical preservatives requires respiratory protection when cutting or sanding.
Notable Features
Distinctive resinous odor; high resin content. The wood exhibits significant 'checking' (radial cracks) as it seasons outdoors. It is extremely heavy when wet but lightens significantly as it dries.
Finish Recommendations
Solid or semi-transparent exterior stains. Due to the high moisture and chemical content, it is best to allow the wood to 'weather' for several months before applying an oil-based sealer or deck stain.
Identification Confidence
High. The growth ring structure, dimensional application as a handrail/decking component, and characteristic weathering patterns on softwood are diagnostic of treated Southern Pine.