Topic: advice-ebay scaffold boards

[tomatoada]

These are for sale at £3.50 each, pick up only.  I would love some and they are not too far from me to collect.  What questions should I ask [if any] of the seller and what do others think of the offer.   Please has anyone advice to give me?    Many thanks.

[saddad]

Can you get me some too!!!  :)

[asbean]

I had scaffold boards, admittedly they were not all new, but some of them are rotting - that's after six years.  Not sure I'd replace them with scaffold boards, gravel board I put in at the same time is not rotting at all. 

[saddad]

Mine's rotting now after a decade, but as I only use it too work from that's not a problem... not making raised beds or anything...  :)

[tomatoada]

saddad  no problem but I need to decide if they are OK to buy first.
I am a bit cautious about buying on ebay.

[saddad]

My concern would be provenance... split/damaged are supposed to be destroyed. Is someone going over a building site fence?
 :-\

[tomatoada]

Oh gosh.   Think I will go back to gravel boards from Wicks.

[Slug_killer]

I had scaffold boards ... some of them are rotting - that's after six years.   

How long would you expect untreated wood thats permanently in contact with the soil,  to last ?

My composter is made from wood and I re-treat that every other year, and it still rots.

[plainleaf2]

what type of wood is it.

[asbean]

Scaffold boards are not expected to have a long life, they last as long as they are needed for their original purpose and then cut down or disposed of.  Gravel board should in theory last as long as fence posts.  Same as decking boards, they are meant to last longer too.

[tomatoada]

Thanks asbean.   Gravel boards it is.

[tonybloke]

at least with scaffold boards you ain't putting toxins nr your crops.
http://files.recycleworks.co.uk/files/Wood%20preservatives.pdf