Creosote or Tanalith? The smart way to pick the right pole treatment for your project.
Not all treated poles are equal. At Khulani Timber Industries we offer both creosote and tanalith (CCA) treatments and choosing the right one can make all the difference.
Let’s break it down.
1.What the options are – We provide pressure-treated poles with either creosote or tanalith/CCA chemical treatments.
2.Creosote chemical – Creosote is derived from the distillation of tar from wood or coal and is used as a wood preservative. Pesticide products containing creosote as the active ingredient are used to protect wood used outdoors against termites, fungi, mites and other pests. Creosote is an oil-based chemical. The Creosote leaves the treated poles with a black exterior.
3.Tanalith/CCA Chemical –Chromated arsenicals, which include chromated copper arsenate (CCA), are a group of pesticides containing chromium, copper, and/or arsenic that protect wood against termites, fungi and other pests that can degrade or threaten the integrity of wood products. The CCA chemical is mixed with water to get the require solution strength. After treatment timber will dry and the CCA chemical will become fixated in the sapwood of the timber. CCA is odourless and dry to the touch. Easy to work with once the poles need to be handled and used in the require project. The CCA chemical leaves the treated poles with a green exterior.
3.Hazard Class overview – Understanding the exposure your structure faces helps pick the right treatment:
-H3: External above ground
-H4: Direct ground contact
-H5: Fresh water or wet soil
-H6: Marine/seawater exposure
At Khulani we cover poles across these classes with the appropriate treatment.
4.How this benefits you – By matching the treatment to the exposure, you avoid corrosion, rot, premature failure, costly replacements. You get longer lifespan, enhanced safety and better ROI.
Not sure which treatment your next project needs? Contact our sales team and we’ll help you select the right specification.
