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Most ordinary 2x4s used in housing construction are Douglas Fir.
A few of them have holes driven into them, very similar to the ones in your photo, and are then dipped in a trough of chemicals that can inhibit mold, bacterial growth, termites etc. High pressure is then applied, driving the solution deep into the wood. Hence the term "pressure treated".
These are usually used where the wood will touch the ground, such as the bottom planks of a housing frame, or possibly a fence post (not the ideal application, but better than nothing).
Sealing it may or may not be a good idea. The idea is for the bacteria or termite to get on it, take one bite, and drop dead. Arsenic is sometimes used in the solution that is driven into the wood, so it is not ideal material to have around children. Splinters can literally be poisonous.
When I was a kid, we had animals such as rabbits and goats (family was into 4H). Both would gnaw wood if they found any around they could reach. We kept the pressure-treated stuff far away.
Not much point in sealing it. It already has chemicals that should keep it from rotting or whatever.
That said, there is no HARM in sealing it, either. The chemicals in it will do their thing regardless.
A few of them have holes driven into them, very similar to the ones in your photo, and are then dipped in a trough of chemicals that can inhibit mold, bacterial growth, termites etc. High pressure is then applied, driving the solution deep into the wood. Hence the term "pressure treated".
Close; but no cigar. Without a long dissertation this video is a good representation of the actual process. http://youtu.be/gTGGJjJd91A
These are usually used where the wood will touch the ground, such as the bottom planks of a housing frame, or possibly a fence post (not the ideal application, but better than nothing).
Framing of a house doesn't "touch the ground". Bottom plate that is attached to concrete will usually be PT; but it doesn't have to be if some form of moisture barrier is used. There are certain dimensional lumber sizes that are rated for "ground contact". These are generally not used in everyday residential framing.
There must be a new or different technique to inject the chemicals and if you look into the largest few companies who do this, you will see that the raw wood is set into the pressure chamber as a banded shipping pallet from the sawmill. Nothing has been done to the lumber prior to the pressure treatment or during the drying out process.
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