Can You Use Old Fence Slats As Firewood?

If you're in the market for a new fence, such as one made of the overlooked material that delivers rustic charm without the upkeep, one thing to consider before you start breaking ground is what you're going to do with the old fence. It would be a shame to simply throw it away, especially considering how useful a few dozen planks of wood can be. When thinking about ways to reuse old fence slats, using them as firewood can seem like a harmless idea. All you would have to do is trim them down a little, and you would be left with a good supply of pre-cut fire starters. At the very least, you could burn them to save room in your trash or avoid a bulk pick-up fee. However, as simple as this solution seems, it's often not a viable one since wooden fence posts have often been treated with chemicals that can make them very dangerous to burn.

Some of these treatments are very obvious, such as paint, polish, or wood stain on the slats. If you can recall ever personally adding some sort of sealant or other enhancement to your wooden fence, it's safest to assume that the slats still have some chemical residue that will produce toxic smoke. Even if you don't remember treating it after it was installed, your old fence may be constructed out of pressure-treated lumber. It should go without saying, but a fence made out of anything other than wood should also never be burned –- the thought of melting plastic or metal should speak for itself. And before you plan on setting fire to anything, you should consult your local laws to make sure a controlled burn will be allowed in the first place.

Pressure-treated lumber is injected with chemicals like arsenic, chromium, copper, and other preservatives, fungicides, and pesticides. If you have an especially old painted fence, it may contain lead if it was painted pre-1970s, or mercury if it was painted pre-1990s. Fine particles from treated woodsmoke can easily slip into your nose, mouth, eyes, and airways, flooding your bloodstream with neurotoxins, so burning it is a huge safety risk. In fact, pressure-treated wood is actually labeled hazardous waste by the EPA, making it illegal to burn it – one of many fence-related laws every homeowner should know. 

If you're unsure whether you're dealing with pressure-treated wood, there's a few ways to check: First, newer wood may still have a label or serial number printed on the end of the slats that you can check. A green or brownish color is another good indication. You can also cut the wood and look at the cross-section. If the inside still looks pretty new, it's likely treated. 

While burning an old fence is possible, the risks outweigh the reward. That means you'll have to find another way to get rid of your old wooden fence slats, but luckily there are countless ways to reuse the material. You could keep the scraps on hand or repurpose them into a dedicated project like a piece of outdoor furniture. Just keep in mind that you might not want to use it for a garden bed because chemicals might seep into the soil. The next best solution for an old pressure-treated wooden fence may be to give it away or bring it to your local landfill. For your future fence, consider building it out of something more eco-friendly, like this budget-friendly fence alternative that uses yard scraps.