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Water resistant wood

Errol1951
Growing in Experience

Water resistant wood

Hi

I am looking to replace some timber frames in my garden nursery I have previously just used treated pine but I want to know whether meraboo  would be more resistant to water has anyone got any advice

Jason
Community Manager
Community Manager

Re: Water resistant wood

Hi @Errol1951,

 

Could you please tell us what you are planning to build and for what purpose? That will really help members recommend the most appropriate timber to use for your application.

 

Many thanks,

 

Jason

 

 

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Errol1951
Growing in Experience

Re: Water resistant wood

I have rack frame made out of treated pine with wire mesh shelves so the young plants don't sit in water

Re: Water resistant wood

No worries, thanks for the extra detail @Errol1951. Let me tag a couple of very helpful members in @Jamespeter100 and @Adam_W who might like to share their thoughts on the best choice of timber for your nursery. 

 

Jason

 

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Re: Water resistant wood

Hi @Errol1951,
Situations that are staying damp, as will happen with nursery racks, can be difficult and you need to get the timber selection right.
Using a hardwood like merbau would give you a lifespan a little longer than a regular treated pine but it will be massively more expensive for that little bit of extra life-span.
Probably best to give a bit of background info here so the rest of my answer makes more sense...
Treated timber, softwoods like pine or some hardwoods, have what's called an 'H' rating. This stands for 'Hazard Class' and it tells you what conditions the timber is suitable for use in.
H1 is only suitable for use indoors in a completely dry situation & is really only protected from borers.

H2 is similar but it can handle minor moisture and is termite protected too. This is often used for house-framing.

H3 can be used outside but only above-ground in situations that don't stay wet and this timber can handle pests as well as some rots & decay.
H4 is designed for outside and in-ground even in very damp situations. You'll find this is the 'H' level of most sleepers and posts.

H5 is for severe exposure, even in water, and is engineered to be protected against severe rot etc.

For the longest lifespan outdoors you'll need a treated timber (note that I'm excluding from this some of the hard to get & expensive hardwoods) so... the short answer to all of this is that you could use...
- H3 grade treated pine (or hardwood) for the bench racks themselves that are not in contact with the ground but H4 would last longer.

- H4 grade treated pine (or hardwood) for any posts etc. that are in contact with the ground.

From a cost perspective I'd be using treated pine and if you wanted the merbau look just stain the timber with a suitable oil.
Oh, and make sure all brackets, screws, nails etc. are galvanised.
Does this help?

Errol1951
Growing in Experience

Re: Water resistant wood

Hi Adam

Thanks for the information I was not aware of that use of "H" numbers I thought they were about strength that will give me a better choice again thank you

 

Re: Water resistant wood

No worries at all @Errol1951 
No, the strength etc. is a whole 'nuther kettle of fish. That is the 'S' grading. 'S' for unseasoned or green, 'SD' for dry or seasoned. With the highest number being the weakest.

Then there is the 'F' class rating which is a stress grade (I think the F was originally for force) with, confusingly, the higher the number the stronger it is.

And then you also find the MGP ratings for the strength of pine specifically....

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