Cheap Timber

pyrorus

Hi,

I'm looking at trying to make some large timber planters, I'm looking at making them about 2m long half a metre wide and about the same high. Im not worried about how they looks as they will go at the bottom of the garden for vegetables and I can always paint them. The more important element would be to survive being outside.

The issue Im having is on a tight budget I cannot afford the wood. Has anyone got any suggestions where I may find (legally please lol) some cheap (preferably free) wood?

Thanks in advance

Rus

poppysarah

freecycle.

TallGirl

Pallets you break up and paint with wood preserve. I made my own but the wood lice ate one however the other one is fine. Saw some in Aldi for £12.50 today they just slotted together.

tim_n

Scaffolding planks from scaffolders - some just bin them when they get too short (they cut down the long ones as they're not supposed to be split) but eventually they run out of life and they get binned or burnt.

One local scaffolding company went bankcrupt and their boards were flogged at bargain basement prices - about £5 each, 3m long.

I got mine from ebay for £9 each delivered. I did buy 27 though - they were virgin boards which had been pressure treated and so were not suitable for scaffolding but perfect for raised beds. Most solid beds I've ever build.

Del_Astra

If freecycle and ebay draw blank, try a local Timber merchant, tell him what its for and see what he can offer you. First off Timber merchants are way cheaper than large DIY stores, and as timber is graded you might find they have something that will be ideal for you needs and are practically giving it away.

JMurph

I wanted to raise a very shallow bed against the back wall of my house, and found the cheapest lengths of timber were lengths of skirting board that were clearance in B&Q. They've done the job rightly!

valk_scot

I built all 26 raised beds in my allotment from timber scavanged from skips. It took me a while to get enough but it was free!

gamston

i used to be shift worker, so could go to midweek daytime auctions in local town, they always had timber for sale cheap, also used to be a reclaim timber yard where i could get timber, you had to take the old nails/screws out but was cheap

tim_n

JMurph wrote: »

I wanted to raise a very shallow bed against the back wall of my house, and found the cheapest lengths of timber were lengths of skirting board that were clearance in B&Q. They've done the job rightly!

Not MDF skirting board?