LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT products are not designed for and should not be used in structural (load bearing) situations.

LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT may emit a solvent odor for a short period of time. This is similar to that of oil-based paint and results from the interwoven slip sheeting and containerization process. The slip sheeting protects the wood from blocking but does not allow for minute amounts of solvent to dissipate. Any noticeable odor will be well below the accepted threshold limit values (TLV) for long term exposure of 100ppm, and will disappear within a few days of airing.

Building construction features that maximize performance of exterior wood products include: wide roof overhang, wide flashing at roof edges, correctly installed flashings around doors, windows and other openings, effective vapor barriers, adequate eave troughs and downspouts, exhaust fans to remove excessive moisture, and adequate attic insulation and ventilation.

In order to allow for normal seasonal wood movement, nailing should be such that it does not restrict movement - do not nail through overlapping pieces. Unlike treatments that contain high levels of copper or other metals, the active ingredients in LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT do not promote the corrosion of nails and fastenings. To fasten LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT in exterior applications, hot dipped galvanized nails are all that is needed. High tensile aluminum or stainless steel fasteners are also suitable. To fasten in interior applications, LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT requires no specialty nails; simply fasten as you would with any other interior wood product.

Hand nailing is recommended so that the factory primer seal will not be broken. If a nail gun is used, the precise adjustment of air pressure is necessary to achieve a flush finish. Alternatively, nails can be countersunk 1/16” and filled with putty to obtain a smooth surface. Pre-drilling near the ends is recommended to avoid any possibility of end splitting.

All nailing should be over studs and total effective penetration into a solid wood base should be at least 1-1/2” (Penetration is 1 – ¼“ with ring shank nails). Nailing patterns should comply with industry practices (see Exterior Wood in the South - Selection, Applications and Finishes. 1991. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report, FPL-GTR-69).

Instructions for Trim Boards, Shiplap and mouldings

All LIFESPAN^® SOLID SELECT trim boards are back stamped “LIFESPAN^® SOLID SELECT” please make sure to orient the stamped side against the building so as not to be visible.
Spacing: 2 face nails 1x3-1x6 are recommended to properly secure LIFESPAN^® SOLID SELECT and 3-4 face nails on 1x8-1x12 are recommended for proper anchoring to the substrate.

Instructions for LIFESPAN^®SOLID SELECT Bevel Siding

Face nail, one per bearing, so the nail clears the edge of the under-course – approximately 1 – 1/8” from the bottom edge when a 1” overlap is used. In the event a smaller exposure is desired, it is assumed the face nail WILL penetrate the under-course. This alternative detail is acceptable and will not void the warranty.

Ensure all flashings, seals, and building paper have been correctly applied. The siding should be laid out so the minimum overlap is 1”. A furring strip should be used to space the bottom row. A minimum ground clearance of 6” is recommended for LIFESPAN^® SOLID SELECT bevel siding.  Position and nail each layer as indicated.

The active preservative components of LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT are insoluble in water and will not be leached out in service.

We are so confident of the treatment that we can now confirm that all LIFESPAN® products, even our 5/4” boards do not require preservative end sealing of cuts and rips under our limited lifetime warranty.  Of course as with all natural wood products we recommend, as good building practice, primer coating on any exterior facing cuts and rips to maintain optimum appearance.

Any alteration of the shape or size of the product by rip-sawing, grooving, reprofiling, or planing must have the new surfaces reprimed with one coat of acrylic or alkyd primer, or the limited lifetime warranty will be void. Any reprofiling or planing, must be to less than 10% of the surface area of the product.

LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT is not intended for structural uses. Where impact adhesives are to be used or highly stressed glue joints are to be made (e.g. glue laminated beams), specific advice should be sought from Taupo Wood Solutions.

The smooth, defect free surface results from two coats of manufacturer applied, special purpose primer. Simply fill and prepare the wood for the finish coat using paint manufacturer’s specified instructions (e.g. use exterior filler if used on the outside of a building, spot prime and sand if necessary, clean and remove surface debris). Always follow the paint manufacturer’s recommendation for the application and maintenance of paint. For best results, choose a high-quality exterior acrylic/latex or oil-based paint system.

More details on painting recommendations can be found in the section “Limited 12-month primer warranty” in the Warranty section of this website.

Download PPG Primer Warranty, Painting Specification, and Top Coat Recommendations

PPG industries offers an extended topcoat paint warranty for LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT when topcoated using their family of paint products (Monarch, Olympic, Porter, Pittsburgh Paints). The paint warranty is separate from the substrate warranty. For details of this, contact Olympic Paints and Pittsburgh Paints at 877-622-4277.

In particular, we recommend that you:

• Do not use LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT under circumstances where the preservative may contact or become a component of food or animal feed. Examples of such uses would be cutting boards, counter tops, animal bedding, and structures or containers for storing animal feed or human food.
• Do not use LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT for construction of those portions of beehives that may come into contact with honey.
• Always maintain good woodworking practices, and particularly avoid inhalation of sawdust.
• When sawing, sanding and machining LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT, as for any wood product, always wear a class P1 or P2 replaceable filter or disposable half face piece respirator. These operations should be performed outdoors to avoid indoor accumulations of airborne sawdust.
• Launder clothing that has had sawdust accumulate on it prior to reuse. Wash work clothes separately from other household clothing.
• When power-sawing and machining, and in areas with high dust levels, wear goggles to protect eyes from flying particles.
• Wear gloves and protective clothing when working with LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT. After working with LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT, wash exposed skin areas thoroughly before eating, drinking or using tobacco products. Avoid hand-to-mouth contact with soiled hands.

Do not burn LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT, because when burned, the chemicals used may become toxic as part of smoke and ash. In particular, LIFESPAN SOLID SELECT should not be burned in open fires or in stoves, fireplaces or residential boilers. Treated wood may be burned only in commercial or industrial incinerators or boilers in accordance with state and Federal regulations.