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Replies

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  Alex Collins February 25, 2010 at 2:21pm

  I can do you composite for your beds - no preservatives ever needed and a 25 yr warranty..
  If your interested, let me know what kind of profile you would like.
  Hopefully a picture is attached?
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  Alex Collins February 25, 2010 at 2:40pm

  its all composite Stuart, the decking has been used ribbed side uppermost and for the edging, the guy used our standard fascia board. Colour - 'Pebble Grey'.
  We do many profiles - more comprehensive list attached.
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  chris nangle February 25, 2010 at 3:34pm

  use sleepers or green oak not that expensive and never treat them that way you can stain the outside if need be and leave the inside natural
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  Anthony Toop February 25, 2010 at 3:43pm

  Having looked at the product list, i would opt for the smooth 'Wide Fascia' board for the beds.
  The product seems ideal for decking but as a substitute for timber for a simple raised bed i fear the cost would be prohibitive.
  Is it possible for you to give an idea of cost, incuding delivery, to make up a 1mtr square bed and a 2mtr x 1mtr bed, both 1 board high? ideally corner posts as well, although i could'nt see anything suitable, those listed being to small or to big.
  
  Alex Collins said:

  its all composite Stuart, the decking has been used ribbed side uppermost and for the edging, the guy used our standard fascia board. Colour - 'Pebble Grey'.
  We do many profiles - more comprehensive list attached.
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  Alex Collins February 25, 2010 at 3:56pm

  Our posts are 88mm square and available at £12.30/m. Wide fascia is £4.07/m. Our spindle can be cut at 45 degs and used as edging stakes (see pic) this is £2.42/m. all + vat +del.
  Decking board is £4.95/m so not too much more than the wide fascia.
  Thanks
  Alex
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  Anthony Toop February 25, 2010 at 4:22pm

  Thanks for that Alex, i can certainly see it being a viable alternative for the more dicerning client, i would certainly use it myself at these prices ;-) but the fact it still works out at approx 2.5 times the cost, than to make it in timber, despite its eco friendly credentials, is a definite stumbling block for most price conscious clients when it's 'just a raised bed' :-[
  I will certainly try and sell the benefits of the product in the future though.
  
  Alex Collins said:

  Our posts are 88mm square and available at £12.30/m. Wide fascia is £4.07/m. Our spindle can be cut at 45 degs and used as edging stakes (see pic) this is £2.42/m. all + vat +del.
  Decking board is £4.95/m so not too much more than the wide fascia.
  Thanks
  Alex
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  Alex Collins February 25, 2010 at 4:58pm

  Yep - you're right, we will never be able to compete with softwood on price and when people buy on price alone, we aren't going to get the work. When you look at the lifecycle costs however, Ecodek starts to look good. Who wouldn't want a planter that is going to have a 25yr no maintenance warranty and be toxin-free?
  I love the fact that whenever I do a job around the house using Ecodek (be it build a fence/planter/deck/porch etc) I know that I will never have to worry about painting it or replacing it. OK so its easier for me as I don't have to pay for it, but still!
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  Michael Burt February 25, 2010 at 5:09pm

  I have just spoken to my local timber sawmill whom I regularily buy from who assures me that arsenic has been banned for at least 2 years now in the UK and all treated timber supplied by them is safe in all installations including veg beds, ponds etc.
  Probably best to get assurances from your local timber merchants..
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  Steve Rice February 25, 2010 at 5:57pm

  Quite right, CCA preservatives were banned at least 2 years ago, not only due to the arsenate but also due to carcinogenic (cancer-inducing) properties. The replacements are less harmful, but still mean that any treated timber has to go to landfill rather than being chipped & composted, or burnt as fuel, at the end of its useful life, so it's therefore not very sustainable, even if the timber came from FSC sources!
  
  Composite decking has better sustainability credentials since, although it takes energy to manufacture, it uses waste hardwood & plastic which would otherwise go to landfill, is manufacured in the UK so shipping energy input is low, and doesn't require petrol-chemical derived preservatives during its lifetime. It can probably also be recycled at the end of ts (extended) useful life.
  
  Another alternative to consider is untreated Larch which, due to its very high resin content, should have a ground-contact life of 15+ years. This is now being used in the "Living Leaves" system raised beds.
  
  Steve Rice, Blooming Good Gardens
  
  
  Michael Burt said:

  I have just spoken to my local timber sawmill whom I regularily buy from who assures me that arsenic has been banned for at least 2 years now in the UK and all treated timber supplied by them is safe in all installations including veg beds, ponds etc.
  Probably best to get assurances from your local timber merchants..
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  Kirsty Blair February 25, 2010 at 11:56pm

  I've used Larch sleepers for veg beds - have a local timber company that specialises in it -Thomson Timber.
  It not a hard wood but was used for boat building so being wet not an issue - will out last me anyway. More expensive than your treated sleepers from builders yard but look better.