What's up with the blue wood?

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If you've noticed some houses in your neighborhood being built or remodeled with blue-colored framing lumber, roof trusses and sheathing panels, you may think the Smurfs came in at night and sprayed the place.

Actually, the blue wood is BluWood, building components with a factory-applied treatment to prevent mold and rot in wood and to repel the frisky little critters called termites that come along later to chew up and digest mold-weakened wood.

This blue treatment is gaining interest because highly toxic chemicals once used to preserve wood were recently outlawed. The problem is that much framing lumber is pretty darn wet when it's delivered to the site, and then it might get rained on or absorb more moisture somehow. Then it gets installed in the house and closed in with thermal barriers, radiant barriers, vapor barriers, house wrap, insulation, drywall, wallpaper and so on. So the moisture gets trapped, and when there is lots of water and heat and food (wood), mold has a feast.

The BluWood treatment, the company says, allows existing water to evaporate but prevents new water from coming in. The company gives a limited lifetime warranty against mold and mildew, and the warranty is transferable.

So, if framed houses start looking like they're being built by the Blue Man Group, that's why.

More info:

BluWood has been listed in the GreenSpec Directory.
Read a Garden Web forum discussion of BluWood.
Watch a YouTube video showing an "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" house built with BluWood.

(Photo: Garden Web Forum)

Comments

[Kenny Smith]

I see many of these Blu houses going up in so cal. It is about time someone has protection for raw lumber and non toxic way to go. Now if this stuff was fire retardant how could you not use it? Is it expensive to build with?

[Stuart Chase]

I support the use of Bluwood in the construction of new homes and remodelinfg as well. The fewer problems a homeowner needs to tolerate are a step in the right direction. New construction frequently is exposed to rain, not to mention during transportation and storage. This additional moisture trapped in the wood makes problems worse for the homeowner. I think Architects should recommend a product that can reduce the termite and especially mold problems. Even if not used by the contractor or homeowner they have at least been put on constructive notice there is a product that can reduce their problems

[Karla Lewis]

I think products like this are going to revolutionize the way we build. I would feel much safer and more secure if i had built my home out of blu wood.

[Tim Mcmanus]

BluWood seems as though it is just the next logical step in building with wood. I am scared to death of mold! And no termites or quarterly termite treatments either? Why hasn't someone thought of this before? How much though?

[Steve Vuozzo]

I have seen patio covers built with Bluwood and homes on the ocean. It seems like the only logical wood for the future!

[ray jones]

i've used this bluwood product a couple time and love it. my customers love it as well. thanks bluwood!

[Bryan Brimecombe]

Does it change the structural integrity of the wood? Can it be painted for exterior use like decks and over hangs? Silly question, but does the treatment make it more susceptible to fire, or extreme heat?
As a person that has several properties, a few that need renovating... I'd like to know more.