PT wood/concrete contact

[Jon_E]

My garage floor is concrete, with a clear sealer. It is also heated so there really isn't a moisture concern. I know for most construction, wood contact with concrete is usually made with pressure-treated wood, but I don't see the necessity in this circumstance? I am going to be building some stairs, a bunch of built-in workbench sections and a vertical lumber rack, all sitting on the concrete floor or partially on the (unheated) stem wall, 6" off the floor.

Was wondering if I could, or should, forego the PT and just use a sealer on regular wood, or a non-wicking shim on the floor, or not worry about it at all. Any of you have heated floors and have wood sitting directly on them?

 

[pattenp]

Are you subject to meeting building codes? Where I am, wood framing or stair stringers in contact with concrete floor slab or stem wall is required to be PT.

 

[The Cobbler]

I used sill gasket between my concrete stem & framing with regular spf

 

[ard]

If someday you or your heirs will need to pass a pre-purchase sale inspection...just use PT.

 

[MoonRise]

Structure in contact with concrete? PT lumber.

A workbench that you can replace or rebuild whenever you want/need to? Make it out of whatever you want, that fits your 'needs'. PT, steel, aluminum, plain wood, carbon fiber, whatever.

And no, just having the plastic foam 'sill sealer' between the sill and the concrete does NOT remove the REQUIREMENT that the sill plate (or any other wooden framing member) must be PT lumber. Because of rot AND insect (aka termites) issues.

 

[DFB]

Just cut the height of your bottom riser back enough to slip a piece of PT 2x across under your stringers where they will rest on the concrete floor.


Do the same thing for your workbench and shelf frames. Put some PT stock and make stretchers for your legs your legs to set on running front to back.

Ayiyi...

 

[ItsNemo]

Just slip some poly or sill gasket under each, good to go.

 

[In2toys]

If you're talking about the walls, why not? the price would be negligible for doing it right. benches... stairs, WGAS

 

[anythingyoucanimagine]

In VT you are fine with either a sill gasket and non-PT or if in direct contact you need to use PT.

 

[Bretny]

Last i knew wood benches or wood racks arnt covered under any code. Stairs most likely would be. You will have to ask the building inspector or look up the code but a piece of plastic wood under the stair steingers may get you away from useing PT and keep the wood far enough away from the concrete that if a vehicle is melting off or dripping your wood wont get wet. Sill gasket wont do that.