Best kind of wood for outdoor enclosures?

[Sanchez]

I got my Florida Box Turtle over the winter and it's almost warm enough to start putting her outside! So I need to build an enclosure. I've read that pressure treated wood is the best to use, but does tree species matter at all. I've read to avoid cedar, but are hardwoods like oak or maple, etc, ok to use? Does it matter as long as I don't use cedar? If you made your own outdoor enclosure what did you use?

 

[Yvonne G]

On outdoor enclosures I don't worry about what kind of tree the lumber came from. I use anything and everything. If you're going to buy lumber, then buy something that will last in your climate. Here in Central California, any soft wood decomposes quickly when in contact with the ground, but I use scrap lumber, so it doesn't matter to me if it lasts or not.

Most of my scrap lumber is pine, but there's quite a bit of redwood and cedar too. It all decomposes at the same rate here.

 

[Jodie]

There is enough ventilation outside that you don't have to worry about the lumber. There are a lot of enclosure ideas and info in the enclosure section.

 

[leigti]

I used pressure treated 2 x 12's.

 

[tortdad]

Pressure treated is good

 

[leigti]

Pressure treated is good

I like the pressure-treated because I don't plan on building this enclosure more than about once. It should last years. I don't worry about the chemicals because it was outside in the elements for a good two months before my tortoise was in it.

 

[Tom]

I use regular plywood and 2x4s and just prime and paint it with a good exterior paint.

 

[Eric Zukowski]

Curious why you would avoid cedar? It holds up better then most other non pressure treated woods. I use pressure treated pine it's the best bang for your buck.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I also use pressure treated pine. In my case 1"x6"x6'.
I've read that cedar oil is harmful. I'm not sure to what degree it would matter outdoors.

 

[jobeanator]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_468965-153-...ape+timbers+and+ties&productId=4751376&rpp=32
These are what i use, landscape timbers from lowes. They hold up pretty well and isn't too expensive. I also use used materials such as old waterbed frames.