BUILDING MATERIALS - Help!

I made a Redwood tunnel (3 sides wood, 1 side mesh) for my 11 yr old BP snake to move around the house, and outdoors, to a Fir pre-fab catio. After spending thousands of dollars on this project, I found out that soft woods aren't recommended for use with reptiles due to the phenols. So now I'm trying to determine if any non-VOC, animal friendly sealants would work to salvage my project. After using a pet friendly sealant, I am planning on lining the tunnel with corrugated plastic which will prevent the snake for coming into contact with the Redwood itself. Any advice?

Completely sealing the wood with a water-proof coating (including polyurethane) that is no-VOC* & that dries pet-safe should be all that is needed. *VOC= volatile organic compounds- ie. you want something that does NOT off-gas toxic fumes- one that dries completely should also be odor-free. Incidentally, the fumes (VOC) aren't good for us to breathe either. Read labels carefully- if not clear, ask or find a product with better assurance of pet-safety, & never use until fully dry (goes without saying, lol). (*BTW, you clearly know what VOC stands for, but others reading may not.)

Personally I'd avoid adding the plastic- many of those off-gas too, & might also be "iffy" for constant breathing by confined & delicate creatures, IMO. (I prefer to error on side of caution.) Besides, sealing the wood is all you should need- and with one side being "mesh" you'll have good air-flow anyway. :gj:

I hope you'll post pics & keep us updated on this project. I also hope that your BP likes the tunnel as much as you expect her/him to- as most BPs aren't usually all that active, being "ambush predators". Maybe you could add mouse scent along the tunnel though, to "inspire" your snake to hunt? :D Out of curiosity, how wide is the tunnel?

Thanks for your reply Bogertophis. The interior diameter is 3 1/2 inches by 3 1/4 inches. It is attached thru the walls with 3 inch PVC pipe. The tunnel has a hinged bottom for ease of cleaning and it is attached using a French cleat so I can easily remove it from the wall if needed. I am planning on using corrugated plastic to fashion a tray in the tunnel for ease of cleaning. From what I've read, corrugated plastic is pet friendly. I still have a question about off-gassing. In the Fir catio, Truesdail (my BP) will have four chambers with varying temperatures. Do you think the sealed Fir wood will still be safe once the wood is introduced to a heat source?