How Long Can Untreated Wood Survive Outdoors?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.ย. 2024
- While refurbishing one of my planters I made 2 years ago it's a chance to take a look at how untreated wood is coping with being in the elements all year round.
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I made those same planters 1 week after watching your video in exactly the same way you demonstrated Stuart . My planters still look great , no rot but I’ll give them another paint job this year. I’ve used a lot of your advice and methods on my own projects domestically and professionally ( I’m a soul trading handyman ) and none have disappointed ( my clients and I are very happy ) ! Thank you Stuart 👍
Awesome book that gives you step-by-step photos th-cam.com/users/postUgkxTNB_zFBSnTo_O1PqfVUwgi7ityw0JlKt and directions to make every day project. I can see myself making a few of these projects and giving them as housewarming and holiday gifts!
I can't believe it's been two years already. They look as good as they did back then.
I made the same 12 months ago so glad to see this Stuart, because my timber was also untreated. great video thanks again. only difference i made mine to fit some plastic tubs inside.
Nice one Kevin
Great update! I used cls for a pond net for a temp fix! I took it down after 2 years and it was as solid as the day I built it.
Thanks for that.
You confirmed for me my contention about this issue.
I am about a year from retiring - from being a builder - and I have always held that wood if allowed to be wetted AND dried, will last quite well.
I also am developing a range of planters for sale - so no surprise I watched you video (and others of course).
I however add one layer - a drainage plane matting, underneath the plastic liner (between the plastic and wooden parts) to allow any water and or moisture to be able to find its way out - just as we do on a house wall.
I don't want a few years of life but rather decades of life for any planter and for just one more component at a reasonable low cost, why not add it to the already good planter.
NB, this drainage plane matting is a interwoven plastic fabric of about 7mm thickness (or thicker) and allows air/moisture movement - a bit like a very lose knitted scouring pad - obtainable from many/most builders merchants
Tip: after sanding, wipe down well with some methylated spirits on a rag to remove as much dust as possible. This creates a better bonding surface for the paint. If you imagine sticking a piece of sellotape to the dusty surface, it wont stick because the tape is sticking to the dust. This helps to reduce the chances of the paint peeling in years to come
Great video. Lovely to see the untreated wood's held up so well, i've been looking into making untreated planters to grow some veg in this year. I've also come across a load of tutorial videos for adding self-wicking water reservoirs into the bottom of the planters. Would love to see if yours could be modified to fit one. Could save you a few waterings in the summer too 😅
That’s great to know as I used your method and made 2 strawberry planters Friday. I’d say at least 10 years life easy out of them.
Nice one!
I've made several such things for the garden (UK) using untreated wood, and they are all still holding up very well after more than 3 years.
Great update video thanks. I made a couple of planters last week following your brilliant design idea using the same untreated timber. I have used this timber before cut in half to make a runner bean frame painted with a couple of coats of Screwfix no nonsence garden paint, (which I think is very similar I think to Cuprinol shades). It works very well and shows no sign of rot after a year of exposure. I have painted the inside of my planters as well with just a single coat as my understanding is it is supposed to be breathable anyway so hopefully won't rot from the inside out - we will see in a couple of years. Love your channel please keep up the good work.
Very nice 😊
Thanks
Simple staple remover from Staples is well worth the investment! Superb video that confirms that I should use untreated timber for my next batch of large heavy-duty planters that will probably grow food items. Pretty much exactly how I've designed my planters. Adjustable feet for uneven surface and rollers for the really heavy ones
My garden gate I made with untreated dressed tongue and groove boarding with 4 x 2 cls. Painted in cheap stain in all cuts. Then 3 coats of Sadalin. Looks fine 2 years on. The BEST external timber paint is Dulux Opaque water based. 10yr guarantee applied in proper process.
There is a coating from Japan which may help prevent wood rotting for longer than western style paint. It's called Kakishibu. The best stuff smells a bit off for a week, but will really increase the life of wood outside. As for drying, build with air vent slots between the boards. Even with plastic liner, the gap will allow the wood to dry out.
The planters were obviously made and prepared very well.
I try!
Plain wood can last for years so long as it does not stay wet. I toasted a garden bench with a torch for a shou sugi ban type preservation and it's lasted for 10 years with no deterioration standing on concrete.
Finally, I have a heart redwood table in my backyard that sits in an inch of water for several weeks in the Michigan spring, and it is at least 50 years old with no rot in its feet. There is no preservative on the table, and it has a very thin layer of softened fibers on the surface.
Thanks for the video Stuart,really helpful.👍👍
Thanks Terry
i have bunch of trellises i made from untreated pine with metal Tposts that connect them to the ground. as long there is no contact with ground and it can dry properly, it will last for a long long time. Nice trick with plastic liner :) I bet it would work even better if you used stainless steel chicken wire or mesh for the bottom.
Thanks for the update Stuart, that's interesting to see how they fared, I'm sure any moisture in the corners has seeped through from the outside. The biggest issue is the wood remaining damp as this will inevitable need to rots in the long term, I've got some similar planters that were made to fit around some plastic pots and because I remove the pots and store them somewhere dry over winter they've lasted for years with a little maintenance ! Also I think your plastic sheet also helps by keeping soil and bugs off the timber and limiting oxygen levels as these all contribute to deterioration ! I could sense there is a certain satisfaction in challenging the know alls who just have to point out what you've done wrong ! 😉
Is the paint you are using ‘breathable’. I’ve noticed a big difference in Osmo stuff I’ve been using over plastic paints that don’t breathe. If the moisture gets in the timber with plastic stuff it’s stuck in and rots timber from inside!
Well, that planter has fared remarkably well in the British weather. With the cost of wood, even untreated, it's good to see that you're getting your money's worth out of it.
Great comment 👍🏻
I try to squeeze every penny out for sure!
My 20yo veranda decking rotted and came apart last year. All places in contact with the soil or where water and detritus had been trapped had lost all integrity, but an untreated 2x2 resting on a slab of slate was fine.
I've decided not to dig the new posts in, just use slabs to keep them away from the ground.
Awesome Stuart, those are really lovely. Thank you
Thanks Val
As a Joiner I can say with confidence they would easily last 5yrs. Even with treated softwood they would rot quicker than a decent hardwood. The same goes for softwood pine windows which rot very quickly unless pressure treated. In the old days we would treat all cut ends with "Tanalith" which was yellow but turned green when dry. This was full of all the preservatives which are banned today but they did last. If money aalows it's better to make these planters from durable hardwoods such as Sapele,Idigbo but still need to be treated in some way suck as Sikkens Filter 7. Even better would be Accoya which doesn't move (expand,contract through the seasons) and doesn't actually need to be treated at all. At the end of the day it depends on how long you want them to last, softwood pine and tanalised SW about 10yrs , Decent hardwoods about 30yrs and Accoya/European Oak about 50-100yrs. Personally if I can afford it I want to make them once.
I’ve bought some UC4 timber for flower beds but they’re softwood. How many years can I expect to get out of it?
@@TonyAFC85 Hi and cheers for the reply. UC4 is pressure treated however they cut in half the time the timber spends in the pressure vessel so the treatment will only extend to just under the surface. The cut ends are most vulnerable because you can treat them with brush on preservative but it's not the same.
Years ago they would give a 10yr warranty but that is void if you cut the timber to length. So life expectency can depend on a number of factors so is it below ground, in contact with the ground etc ,if so it will rot fairly quickly so 5-7yrs tops,. I bought some tanalised timber for edging flower borders 3yrs ago and it's rot as a pear
@@AdrianSams I’ve bought some brush on preservative for cut ends but I’m wondering if bitumen would do a better job? And I’ve bought some UC4 gravel boards as edging that will be in contact with the ground I’m hoping I get more than 3 years out of it 🤞
@@TonyAFC85 I'd treat all cut ends with preservative and just accept it will need to be replaced in a few years. Even before it's pressure treated its very poor quality timber so if you start with a poor pruduct you will end up with a poor product. You should never ever have timber whcih has the "Pith" in it which is the very centre of the tree, it's a cork like structure, very soft , you can pick it apart with your finger nails but rots uber quickly.
All the best Adrian
Wood will acclimatise to the relative humidity of were you live, in the UK this is around 80% humidity and wood will typically get to 20% of this and not get much lower unless brought inside, something I realised after years of air drying wood and not being able to get moisture % down to less than 15%! so your readings are pretty typical for outdoor projects in the UK
Good to see they lasted so well. I like to avoid treated wood if I can.
Just like mine built 4 years ago bar split 160 decking on top and stained, rest used wilkinsons outdoor wood/metal paint (black tin under metal paint) in satin with no blistering and bullet proof (posted again as comment seem to be killed off?)
Lovely job!
Can't beat Creosote!!
Yes, Mixed with Oil Engine Oil. Good for stopping weeds in their tracks too..........
Great new intro! Sounds like the trolley wheels need some grease 😊
You're using the moisture meter wrong though. You need to go across the grain to get an accurate reading.
Keep up the amazing videos 👍👍👍👍
Almost like you know what you're talking about Stuart! 👍
Good job mate, although that is one less VERY expensive (free to a good home), hand made, beautifully engineered, up cycled, reclaimed an CO2 neutral pallet gone for a burton! 😅
Blimey two years has flown by quick, i remember watching the original episode when you built them.
I use the DPM on my Raised Beds mainly because of the thickness of it and the fact it won't rip, and my Raised Beds are still going strong and with the same paint as well, albeit in a different colour.
Stay Safe.
Barry (the Wirral)
They are lasting well Stuart, I did similar with a garden trug and I'd say it's about the same as yours.
Any chance you can do a video on interior painting, maybe over a series on how best to cut in walls to ceiling, what order to paint skirting etc.... spread the knowledge....M
Thanks. I'm sure that will be coming soon
Congratulations, they looked like they could last many more years.
Good to see the condition of the wood Stuart, but it might not be a linear relationship. Perhaps after 3 years the rot really sets in.
Happy to be proved wrong; can I request a repeat video in two years time please? :-)
Thank you let me start building my planters cos they are too expensive bought
Would these be vulnerable to wood-eating bugs, like termites?
9:40….that’s ur best song by far
Thanks David
interesting findings Stu
What are the other TH-cam duties ? Where can we see ? Love civils !
As long as wood can dry out it will last forever. The moment bits stay wet it’s the start of the end.
Great video. However, I'm concerned about the wine you're storing in your window.
I think people seriously underestimate how well paint protects wood.
wood, treated or untreated for an outside project like that it will not matter the quality of the wood. as long as you paint it or give it a stain, some sort of protection and it will last for years.
our family bought a garden shed back in 2003, we gave it a coat of creosote each year and its till standing and still in use. the neighbours shed lasted 5 years then went to the dump and they bought a new one.
i can understand you need reg and treated timber for buildings and structural reasons, but i have also seen reg and treated off cuts left outside for a year or 2 and they have started to rot too. if you paint or treat the wood each year or 2 it will last years, even decades.
Great video !!!! thanks
Thanks
i made a planter out of pallet wood, 3 years ago, only put plastic sheet on the inside, not even painted it, still holding strong after all this time outside
Nice one! I think things last a bit longer outside than people think
good info, but way too much err "music" had to turn the volume off.
If you’re not planting anything you plan to eat in those planters, I think it would be better to make it all out of treated wood. The price difference is worth it if it gets you 1 to 2 extra seasons compared to non-treated wood.
Very useful review, thanks! Did that paint tin say "6 years"? Is that the expected lifetime and is that what you used previously? You may be justified to whizz off a quick enquiry to Cuprinol customer services! All the best
What is the bit used on the impact driver called at 3:29 ? 😊
Hi, there driver bits & impact driver bits, impact are best to use as they last longer & don’t so easily break
Hi sir do you think if you applied a coat of black jack to the internal timber , you would achieve even greater longevity ? Kind regards as always . 😀👍👍👍
No it won’t, he explains it in this video but you’re not giving your wood any room to sweat, the pieces he sealed up completely will rot before the inside goes bad whereas the pieces with one side exposed had lower moisture content and will last him longer.
The reason for rotting is not being wet but remaining wet long enough for fungi to survive.
Excuse me, sir. When do we get an update on your new purchase that you started remodelling last year?
Just made some of these myself using your guide, what is the plant with the two tone leaf?
It's a Cana - I think Cleopatra
@10:35 "6 years Weatherpoof". Needs repainting after 2!
Yep........no sponsorship from Cuprinol anytime soon! 🤣
Is painting it not a treatment ?
It's not... Paint sit's on the surface of the timber and doesn't soak into the timber like a chemical treatment would.
Untreated wood can live for houndreds of years outside as long as it stays dry and unpainted
This is the UK, you can't leave something outside for more than 45 minutes before it gets wet, lol
@@Silent002this dude must stay in the Bahamas 😂😂
@@Silent002 or stolen!
In my opinion it would last a lot longer using a better quality paint that Cuprinol paint is not the best by any means.
Cuprinol ducks back has gone to pot it’s so thin and watery now, having to paint the fence every year now even the one you’re using Garden Shades is supposed to be rubbish see Trustpilot reviews 99% are 1 star 😮
What’s on the future channels 👀 any chance of an engineer one?
Who told you?
@@ProperDIY is it actually? I know you are a civil engineer and always throw a bit of engineering into the diy (perfect combo)
My untreated gates have lasted just about 13 years so far,but need to be replaced now.There must be a reason why gate makers use untreated wood.
Nooice!
If it's panted it will out last anyone reading this!
The window shutters are over 90 years old (before pressure
treated was used here in the US) on my
childhood house and my brother just had them
replaced.... only because he was sick of painting
them!!! Not cedar... just plain old 2" boards.
In the US a 2x4 was actually a 2x4 back then!
That barrel looks like it needs some work on it
But the paint has acted as a form of treatment!
non treated are expected to last 4-5 years, treated wood is expected to last 10-20 years. not a fair comparison, just anecdotes
I think you'd need to take the planters to the tip if you wanted to dispose of them - burning anything painted or treated probably isn't that legal.....you could also screw in some plastic spacers in the base and rise the planter a few milimeters off the ground to stop any water damage and make them last even longer just to spite your critics.
Did you actually watch the video?
That’s great to know as I used your method and made 2 strawberry planters Friday. I’d say at least 10 years life easy out of them.