Pallet Enclosures

[DoubleD1996!]

I know someone asked about how long my pallet enclosures lasted a while back.

You can get about 5 years out of these bad boys before any major maintenance. I noticed a few days ago one of the posts going bad. They are dug about 2ft in the ground, so they accumulated moisture over time.

Easy fix. All of the boards are untreated for the most part, but I do spray them with an organic deck finisher.

I've never had a board rot. I put a quarter of an inch gap between them so they can "breath".This prevents them from rotting. They may bow from time to time, but bracing them with a board is an easy fix.

 

[COmtnLady]

CraigsList here always has several ads from companies wanting people to come take pallets away. It seems really logical to use free wood. Good idea!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Some pallets here are made from impregnated wood, is that the case in the US as well?

 

[COmtnLady]

There are things that get shipped on a pallet here that can be toxic if spilled/soaked into the wood. Mostly the ones here are fairly rough lumber, its like the business thinks of them as disposable and doesn't want to put any "extra" money into them. Its a good idea to check, though. Gold star for bringing that up!

(My dad finished almost the entire interior of our 6-stall horse barn with shipping pallet boards.)



Double D said:

Easy fix. All of the boards are untreated for the most part, but I do spray them with an organic deck finisher.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

There are things that get shipped on a pallet here that can be toxic if spilled/soaked into the wood. Mostly the ones here are fairly rough lumber, its like the business thinks of them as disposable and doesn't want to put any "extra" money into them. Its a good idea to check, though. Gold star for bringing that up!

(My dad finished almost the entire interior of our 6-stall horse barn with shipping pallet boards.)



Double D said:

I didn't mean weather these exact pallets were treated. I just thought how big of a concern it is in the US for anyone's reading and wanting to recreate this idea.

Over all, I think it is a fantastic idea!

 

[DoubleD1996!]

I didn't mean weather these exact pallets were treated. I just thought how big of a concern it is in the US for anyone's reading and wanting to recreate this idea.

Over all, I think it is a fantastic idea!

I'd be more concerned if they were broken down into like a mulch, but not for structure.

 

[DoubleD1996!]

There are things that get shipped on a pallet here that can be toxic if spilled/soaked into the wood. Mostly the ones here are fairly rough lumber, its like the business thinks of them as disposable and doesn't want to put any "extra" money into them. Its a good idea to check, though. Gold star for bringing that up!

(My dad finished almost the entire interior of our 6-stall horse barn with shipping pallet boards.)



Double D said:

I get mine from a flooring store. When they get shipments, they just toss them.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I'd be more concerned if they were broken down into like a mulch, but not for structure.

Maybe indoors the risks would need more thought, or if used to build a closed space like a heated tortoise house. Also, heating elements probably play a part in possible toxic fumes/gasses being released.