Old floorboards into decking?!

robrod

Hi,

I am currently ripping out the floorboards from the downstairs of my London Victorian Terrace.
They are cheap modern pine floorboards about 5 inches wide and 22mm thick.
I will replace with reclaimed "original" Victorian floorboards.

However instead of skipping them I have thought about recycling them as my outdoor decking. Is this crazy? I'm thinking of sanding them and then applying decking stain preservative etc.I may even route some grooves in to make them less slippery,

What do people think?

I have seen quite a few trendy bars around here that have done similar with scaffold boards so I'm thinking it can be done.

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks!

27cool

Modern pine boards won't last 5 minutes in the open and exposed to the weather. Not worth the effort in my opinion. Especially if you have to spend time putting grooves in them. Decking boards have been properly pressure treated against rot and are not particularly expensive. Scaffold boards are a different kettle of fish. For one thing, they are much thicker than old floor boards.

EssexExile

"Trendy" & "decking" are rarely encountered in the same sentence.

robrod

@27cool

Thanks for the opinion. That is what I feared which is why I asked the question.
As a guide decking (just the top boards) from Wickes would cost around £700 for the same area.

Not a huge amount but it's significant when I have already spent all our budget - and I would need to spend £350 on a skip to take the old ones away.

So I guess about £1000 effectively.

Also if I built the frame/joists correctly and the floorboards didn't last longer than the year (starting in spring 2017) I could always take them off and lay something else/proper decking on top?!

Loads of my friends "classic" decking doesn't seem to last more than a year or two.

Yes/no?! Thoughts?

robrod

@ EssexExile

Thanks for the contribution. Very helpful!

getmore4less

Our place had gravel boards as decking they lasted nearly 15years and would have gone longer if I had maintained them better in later years but the joists were done by then anyway.

there will be plenty of uses where they are not over exposed(shed flooring/roof) but outdoors exposed they won't last long without lots of attention.

It won't cost anything to dispose if you stick on freecycle(or similar).
(do that for everything you want shot of)

What length and count? (if north/west London) I have a project that could use some.

robrod

@getmore4less

Hi - thanks - interesting. I figure lots of things will last ok outdoors if treated?!

I made some planters out of pallet wood and did nothing other than screw them together and they are fine 3 years later and filled with and in direct contact with soil. I guess they have been pressure treated though?!

Yes good point about freecycle. I guess I was trying to make the maths more appealing.

I figure if I treat them and lay them in spring they will last till autumn and by that time I'll know if they work or have some budget again to buy "proper" decking boards.

Were the gravel boards bouncy? I guess they would only be 18mm thick. And slippy? Did they have grooves in them?

I'd be happy to pass them on except I am so tempted to use them!

keith969

Chop them up and sell bags of them as kindling to trendy Londoners with wood burners. Then spend the money on proper decking...

lewishardwick

Freestyle the old boards. Someone will take them for free...

robrod

Ha! Keith that is actually a really good idea!
Though at £3 a bag that's a lot of selling to do!

phil24_7

robrod wrote: »

@27cool

Thanks for the opinion. That is what I feared which is why I asked the question.
As a guide decking (just the top boards) from Wickes would cost around £700 for the same area.

Not a huge amount but it's significant when I have already spent all our budget - and I would need to spend £350 on a skip to take the old ones away.

So I guess about £1000 effectively.

Also if I built the frame/joists correctly and the floorboards didn't last longer than the year (starting in spring 2017) I could always take them off and lay something else/proper decking on top?!

Loads of my friends "classic" decking doesn't seem to last more than a year or two.

Yes/no?! Thoughts?

Go to a proper lumber yard/sawmill/pressure treatment place. The wood will be much better than Wickes and will be cheaper too.

Don't skip the wood, advertise it on gumtree/freecycle. People may pay for it but if not they will certainly take it for free...if only to burn!