Exterior quality board for shelf for plant trough

Eliza_2

Good morning all

I have a couple of brackets above my door (outside) and years ago there was a board screwed onto them, forming a shelf where I could stand a trough with flowers. Unfortunately the trough and board have long since disintegrated but the brackets remain solid. I'd like to reinstate this, as apart from looking pretty, it also provided a slight porch effect to the door giving some protection.

Can anyone tell me what kind of hard wearing board I should be getting please? Pref something I can get easily from a shed, B & Q etc. Not too heavy but must be hardwearing and withstand the elements.

Many thanks

Liz

woodbutcher_2

Most timber and timber products will rot eventually, unless you go for a very expensive hardwood like teak or similar. I'd possibly use some kind of plastic. A short piece of plastic window board or similar, which comes in woodgrain colours. Don't know if they would sell a short length in one of the sheds though. Marine ply but again, don't know if you could just buy a small piece. A piece of stone or paving slab will do the job too if you can source something the right size and stick it to the brackets. Possibly too heavy though.

mavisangelica

Would a decking board work cut to size? Two pieces cut from it and laid together across the brackets? We have just bought a couple from B&Q to do a border in the garden. Think they are 2.4 m long and we just managed to get them into our car (Fiat Doblo).

Eliza_2

Thank you both. Great ideas there - I don't mind plastic at all, as long as it doesn't look too awful, it will be covered with trailing plants much of the year anyway. I can source stone pretty easily but don't really want to kill off the postie while he's delivering my bills - there's always a risk it might fall.

Decking boards sound an excellent idea - will look at these. Wonder how easy they are to cut?

Thanks for the ideas, something to go on now!

mavisangelica

Eliza wrote: »

Thank you both. Great ideas there - I don't mind plastic at all, as long as it doesn't look too awful, it will be covered with trailing plants much of the year anyway. I can source stone pretty easily but don't really want to kill off the postie while he's delivering my bills - there's always a risk it might fall.

Decking boards sound an excellent idea - will look at these. Wonder how easy they are to cut?

Thanks for the ideas, something to go on now!

B&Q will cut wood if you want it cut to size - think it is free? And the plus is that the decking boards that we bought were under a fiver.

Hintza

I'b be tempted to go skip diving for a bit of kitchen worktop and then replace as necessary. Even better if you can find a wood bit. Try ebay.

gmgmgm

You can buy plastic scaffolding boards which would do the job.

Even wooden scaffolding boards will last a very long time though.

woodbutcher_2

Decking is a good idea. Don't know why it didn't occur to me as i have been pricing a large decking job today. You could say i can't see the wood for the trees.

mavisangelica

B&Q have sent an email today - decking boards £2 each from tomorrow.

woodbutcher_2

mavisangelica wrote: »

B&Q have sent an email today - decking boards £2 each from tomorrow.

Rubbish quality though. Only 1"x4" and only 6ft long, so not really that good a deal IMO.