Can pressure-treated lumber be used inside of a dwelling as framing material?
RainMan141
| Posted in Building Code Questions on
…such as where basement partitions on bottom plates of a wall or where concrete meets lumber, and what type of barrier is required between lumber and concrete?
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Replies
Sure. However, if you moisture proof and use good moisture mitigation details and practices you would not need all that treated lumber.
What barriers to use? Use a 10 mil. Moisture barrier and stone layer under concrete; A capillary break between the concrete wall and the footing; a good wall waterproofing, and a good drainage system in the basement and on ground level. All those techniques combined will prevent moisture from coming inside. I'm attaching a great paper by Building Science Corp.
It is required by code hereabouts
The 2009 IRC code allows bottom plates of regular lumber as long as the concrete wall or slab is separated by an impervious moiture barrier. The issue could different if a local code mandates it or if you don't want to figh a building dept. or inspector.