[Sweetpea C]

Hi ll,

Inspired by the 'pallet' thread. . . does anyone know where / how to get used scaffold boards for raised beds? I have phoned my builder who is going to ask his supplier for me, but is there another way?

Kind regards.

Caroline

[Annen]

Our wonderful trading hut on the allotments organises delivery of a load of old planks every now and then.  I think they get them from a local scaffolding firm.  They are cut up, notched and battered but plenty good enough for fixed beds.  The hut sells them to us at £3 per 13ft plank, which is very cheap as far as I can tell.

[Yana]

That's a great price Annen. I've found 13ft boards locally to me and they are 50p per foot.

[carlrmj]

 I rang a few of my local scaffolding firms and asked if they had any old boards they couldn't
 use ,and would sell.
   I managed to get 30 boards at 2 pound each( just  over 2 years ago) ,I think 3 pound now
   sounds a reasonable price . If they are 3.9 m long cut into 1.2m and 2.7 m this gives a
    8ft x 4 ft bed

[compostqueen]

I rang our local scaffold outfit and they told me that they have to shred the boards to ensure they are not re-used by cowboys, hence their being as rare as hens teeth

I bought some new ones (or rather my husband did)  from the local builder's merchants.  14 foot long I think they are but two should be enough

You don't have to make raised beds with scaffold board though, there are other options. You don't need to have timber edges at all. You could just mound up the soil and flatten the top but timber round the edge does keep things neat 

I priced up Link-a-Bord and compared it to buying timber for a raised bed.  I bought the LAB in the end but I did go and collect it to save on postage. I'm very pleased with it too 

[Sweetpea C]

Thanks all, as ever some great advice 

[surbie100]

I got a carload of old floorboards from freecycle for the same thing. I noticed that Spring is good for floorboards.

[Sweetpea C]

Well, I put a number of wanted ads on my work noticbpoard (which goes to about 20,000 people) and have come up trumps with some free scaffold boards that were going to be used as raised beds but got replaced with a trampoline. I stated that they had to be free (for the no spending challenge) but I still offered some money which was declined. I will take a bottle of wine and some sweets when I go to collect tomorrow.

I also got offered some soup and a copy of the big issue because someone misread my advert and thought I was going to live on the allotment . . . .just can't get the staff!

[surbie100]

I also got offered some soup and a copy of the big issue because someone misread my advert and thought I was going to live on the allotment . . . .just can't get the staff!

Bless! 

[Yana]

Actually, now I have a shed (Anderson shelter) sounds like a good idea.

[Sweetpea C]

Actually, now I have a shed (Anderson shelter) sounds like a good idea.

I'm sure that's why my husband is so keen on me getting a shed down there... so he can move me in! 

[Sweetpea C]

Well, I'm a very lucky girl. In the canteen at work 4 men in Hi-viz jackets came as I was getting my lunch with 'scaffolders' on the back. So I just asked if they had any they didn't want and could I have them in return for a packet of biscuists. They left 3 x 4mtrs and 1 x 3 mtrs. So, I have enough for 6 beds altogether now.

I'm loving the results of being downright cheeky!

[angelavdavis]

That's a great price Annen. I've found 13ft boards locally to me and they are 50p per foot.

£1 per foot here  

I ended up buying new decking planks which were cheaper!

Looks like you got a result there Caroline.