[annex50]

Hi

I've just got my allotment and want to create beds. Does anyone know how i get old planks - i don't want to waste good wood

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

Have you tried scaffolding firms - they may get rid of old boards?

I'm going to move this over to Design & Construction as others may have more ideas

[Jamie Butterworth]

Hello and welcome to the site,

My latest raised beds are made from wood from a timber auction, very cheap, less than £2 for a 6 metre by half a metre plank, have to buy in bulk though

[samjess]

Hi,

Just wondered which auction you used Jamie as we recently moved house and I am landscaping the garden and making some raised beds on a tight budget. Or does anyone else know any local timber auctions or can offer advise on using them? Thanks

[Jamie Butterworth]

I used the York auction

Where abouts in wakefield are you?

[savbo]

my allotment neighbour just got a load of substandard joists for what sounds like quite reasonable price - from online supplier

[Kleftiwallah]

How about paving stones - or 'flags'   partially sunk into the soil.   Cement don't rot !   Cheers,    Tony.

[andy135]

Scaffolding firms now have to replace their boards, I think every three years under H & S regs. On our plots we club together and order 50 x 10' boards and we get them for £1 each delivered. Cheap as chips. 

[Lillibet]

Hi Andy 135,
Would you be willing to divulge where you get your used scaff planks from please? I cannot get hold of them even though I'm willing to pay. Many thanks. I need several metres worth to set up beds on my new plot

Lil
Sorry for hijacking your thread annex50! 

[fredhogg]

Get a torch and visit a local building site at night

[arugula]

Of course you can always make beds out of something a bit lighter than scaffold planks. You should be able to source GRAVEL BOARDS at any half decent builders merchant. Per my link £5.00 for 2.4 metres is quite usual. Its what we use and depending on where you are in the UK you might be able to get something called sarking boards - they are much the same in size and shape.

[Lillibet]

Thanks Argyllie. Good suggestion.
I've looked into timber gravel boards, indeed have been eyeing some up in a popular DIY store, and will turn to these as an alternative if I cannot get hold of the scaff planks. Scaff planks just seem so much more robust though. 

[arugula]

They will be sturdier Lillibet, quite true but that makes them heavier to work with. Perhaps that isn't a concern to you though. With regard to the boards being long-lasting for anyone new to these materials, the gravel or sarking boards are tanalised although I didn't state this in my previous post.

[stevehester]

I used gravel boards from Wickes, bulk buy in packs of 5, they are 2.4 long and 150 high, thats 8ft x 6inches and pack of 5 just over £21, couple of lenghts of 2 x 2 for the corners, maybe not the cheapest way but they come from sustanable timber supplies, maybe a fencing supplier could be cheaper.