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Deck Sealing Can Protect Kids from Cancer?

Deck Sealing I’ve been doing some reading lately on deck sealing and came across some interesting information on the health effects of arsenic found in pressure-treated wood.  Such wood was commonly used to build residential wood decks prior to 2003.  And like most “this is going to kill you” hysteria popular in our culture, I like to take a fairly judicious, balanced view of the matter.  Not to mention, a desire to protect my wallet from the predators out there who profit from “protecting me” from such hazards.

It’s Deck Sealing Season

Given that this is the time of year when we all get out and wash and seal our decks, I’d thought I’d provide you a few quick resources for you to read and then make up your own mind before you seal your deck or hire a company to do it for you.  This information might compel you to get your deck sealed for more reasons than simply its preservation—it might benefit the health of you and your family.

I have three kids under the age of 5—and while my deck is only 3 years old, after reading the following information, I’d be more inclined to seal my deck every year if it meant reducing the cancer risk to my kids by limiting their exposure to arsenic-treated wood.

Why Keep My Deck Sealed?

If you have a deck built prior to 2003 and are concerned about the health-effects of an arsenic-treated wood deck, then there are some simple, cost-effective steps you can take to mitigate the hazard without replacing the deck itself.  With respect to maintaining the deck itself—keep the deck sealed!

Here are some tips that I thought were reasonable, based on recommendations by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, Environmental Protection Agency and the National Pesticide Information Center:

  1. Apply, once per year, a semi-transparent stain to seal the deck and thereby reduce the migration of any arsenic preservative in the wood. [Read the CPSC study ]
  2. Have children wash their hands after playing on a deck.  (And I would suggest that they not walk barefoot on an older deck.  Shoes or sandals will also prevent splinters!) [Read the article]
  3. Don’t store toys or allow children to play underneath an older deck that used arsenic-treated wood.  If you suspect exposure to arsenic from a deck, read this.
  4. Replace high-traffic or high-exposure areas of the deck (handrails, steps, deck boards) with safe alternatives.
  5. If you suspect you have arsenic-treated wood in your deck, don’t pressure-wash it or use cleaning products specifically designed for deck washing.  Use soap and water instead.  According to an article on WebMD, these chemicals may convert the arsenic in the deck wood into a more toxic form.

My intention isn’t to scare you—just to inform you prior to cleaning and sealing your deck.  It seems to me that the above precautions are simple enough that anyone can abide by them without necessarily incurring unreasonable hassle or cost.

Need Help Sealing Your Deck?

For more information on deck cleaning, deck maintenance, or deck sealing, visit www.MasterMyList.com/Services/Decks/

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