DIY Raised bed

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TW2012

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DIY Raised bed
« on: April 04, 2012, 12:31 »
Hi,

Having looked through the excellent posts on this forum about building raised beds, I was wondering whether anyone had any advice on where to get the timber as cheap as possible?

I'm planning on building three 2 metre x 3m beds and have scoured Freecycle/gumtree etc for scaffolding boards, etc to no avail, so it looks like I'll have to buy the timber.

Thanks for your help!

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Lardman

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2012, 12:35 »
Try calling a scaffold company - explain its for raised beds not scaffolding, they might be able to help.

Timber merchants are usually cheapest - take full lengths and be prepared to be charged based on their view of what you can afford  ::) Keep an eye open for special offers on decking at the big DIY chainstores as that often works out cheaper than 'proper' timber.

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Gwiz

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2012, 12:39 »
There seems to be very little "cheap" timber around at the moment. You could make them from the very useful reclaimed pallets that have been well treated, or as Lardman says, try a proper timber merchant, they are usually much cheaper than the Been and que'd.

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Kleftiwallah

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2012, 12:43 »

Or vertical paving slabs/flags held round the upper edges by a welded angle iron band.

Cheers,     Tony.
I may be growing OLD, but I refuse to grow UP !

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Runwell-Steve

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2012, 12:45 »
I got some budget Decking from my local Timber Merchant.

It cost me £5.00 for a 3 m length though, so I wouldn't say it was necessarily cheap.

As a side point, a 3m x 2m raised bed will make it quite hard to reach the middle of the bed unless you have very long arms.

The traditional maximum width for a raised bed is 4 foot. Thats 1.2m in new money.

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Plottered

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2012, 12:55 »
Any reclaimers yards round about you TW? we have a couple round here who are very good and will cut stuff to size and deliver it for us. Failing that as someone said try scaffolding companies.
R.I.P Bobby Smiler Smith......love you always little fella.

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mumofstig

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2012, 13:10 »
sometimes fencing gravel boards are on offer, and they've already been treated  ;)

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TW2012

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2012, 13:23 »
Wow, thanks for all the very quick advice!

Following the advice, I've just contacted a local reclamation yard and they have ton's of timber available at very very reasonable prices :-)  I think i'll also reduce the width of the raised beds as suggested.  Good point about not being able to reach the middle!

I'll also try the scaffolding companies directly.

Really appreciate all the advice.  Thanks!

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timn

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2012, 12:14 »
I bought 'treated scaffold boards' which aren't actually scaffolding boards as the treatment means they can't be certified (I think that's the case)

They were about £9 each.



is a pic of my salad growing in them - planted in feb!

« Last Edit: April 17, 2012, 18:06 by Yorkie »
Tim N

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kopjules

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2012, 22:42 »
Here are the raised beds my husband has just made. Just needs the netting now.
25(1).jpg
:-)

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kopjules

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2012, 22:45 »
Forgot to say, made from b and q timber decking £5.49 each and rigid piping. 

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ANHBUC

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2012, 13:34 »
I bought 'treated scaffold boards' which aren't actually scaffolding boards as the treatment means they can't be certified (I think that's the case)

They were about £9 each.

is a pic of my salad growing in them - planted in feb!



That looks great Tim where did you source your boards and what size are they?   :)
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Poolman

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #12 on: May 03, 2012, 20:41 »
That does look good tim
New grower here - handle with care!!

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surbie100

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #13 on: May 11, 2012, 07:34 »
I've been really lucky with freecycle and local skips - there's a lot of renovating going on at this time of year! My garage is now stacked with about 30 3m floorboards and other bits of timber. I might start collecting for a shed!

The building our office is in is having a revamp too - if there is anyone near Holloway Road there are skips and skips of good wood and other stuff being taken away each day and would be free to a good home...

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arugula

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Re: DIY Raised bed
« Reply #14 on: May 11, 2012, 08:11 »
if there is anyone near Holloway Road there are skips and skips of good wood and other stuff being taken away each day and would be free to a good home...

I assume you or someone you know, has asked permission to remove items from these skips?

:)
"They say a snow year's a good year" -- Rutherford.



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