[Greenbuilding] Wood Info

[George J. Nesbitt]

Wood-plastic composites will rot quickly in ground contact, really? Trex 
makes a benderboard for ground contact.
    I try to avoid wood ground contact at all costs, the best virgin old 
growth redwood rots eventually, the new crap that passes for redwood 
rots and has termites in 5 years or less.
    I don't like the idea of using pressure treated, hate working with 
the stuff, nasty chemicals, although they are getting better, some woods 
don't completely absorb the treatment, so every time you cut it, it's 
more vulnerable.
    The concept of using something that wants to become compost in 
contact with the ground isn't a great one.  
    I pour concrete with a metal post base when I build fences, or use 
it to repair rotted out fence posts.
    I think recycled plastic lumber is a good alternative, as is any 
masonry product, recycled, salvaged or virgin.
    If you have a abundant local naturally rot resistant wood that will 
last longer than it took to grow the lumber, than that is an acceptable 
option.


Tim Keating wrote:

>Khalil,
>
>100% recycled plastic lumber is the way to go. Check 
>www.plasticlumber.org for companies near you. Make sure you don't get 
>the wood-plastic composites, as these will quickly rot in 
>ground-contact. However, the all-plastic varieties will probably 
>outlast anything else on the property (future archeologists may find 
>them in-tact and have all sorts of theories of religious worshiping 
>sites made of the most durable material we could think of).
>
>tim keating
>
>At 5:53 PM -0400 10/11/06, Khalil Hassan wrote:
>  
>
>>I am looking for wood that will in contact with the ground and will be
>>used in an organic gardening application(raised beds and base boards for
>>a cold frame.  Any suggestions for a wood type or alternatives would be
>>appreciated.
>>
>>I've checked a couple of garden listservs but "thinking green" is
>>generally absent from them.
>>
>>Khalil
>>
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