Deck Boards for tort enclosure?

[labmad]

Are decking boards safe to use for a tort table, i have seen some at B&Q for £2.98 each, they are not stained but look to have a slight green tinge to them?

Or i could use unstained floor boards or skirting etc, which will be for the side walls, and will prob just get a peice of hardwood cut to size for the base....

Just looking at a pretty simple table to make for my stars, well prob 3/4 tables really, a 5x3 one for my 2 3.5yr old male stars, and a couple of smaller ones for the younger stars and the other tort species

cheers peeps

[labmad]

cant see it being a problem, think'll get some in

[Mrs Mental]

I arent sure what you mean by decking boards - do you mean for decking for an outside area? If so have they got anything on them at all? Long as its untreated and a non toxic wood it'll be fine - ask at the shop and they should be able to tell you if its toxic or not (check for when its wet as well as dry)

Happy building

PS - are skirting boards high enough for the sides do you think?

[reptara]

I too would say as long as it's not been treated with anything and is non toxic wood then they should be fine
Good luck with it

[labmad]

yeah, the decking boards that go putside are the ones i mean will ask in store if they are un treated

skirting i would use enough pieces to make the sides high enough to stop any escapee's and for a deep sub

Originally Posted by Mrs Mental

I arent sure what you mean by decking boards - do you mean for decking for an outside area? If so have they got anything on them at all? Long as its untreated and a non toxic wood it'll be fine - ask at the shop and they should be able to tell you if its toxic or not (check for when its wet as well as dry)

Happy building

PS - are skirting boards high enough for the sides do you think?

[Mrs Mental]

Originally Posted by labmad

yeah, the decking boards that go putside are the ones i mean will ask in store if they are un treated

skirting i would use enough pieces to make the sides high enough to stop any escapee's and for a deep sub

Sorted!

ETA - just asked huby about this (he knows about these thigns!!) and he said the wood would be tanilised

[labmad]

Originally Posted by Mrs Mental

Sorted!

ETA - just asked huby about this (he knows about these thigns!!) and he said the wood would be tanilised

erm, i'm a bloke not in the know about these tech issues - so tanalised, do i guess right this is NOT good then?

[Mrs Mental]

Originally Posted by labmad

erm, i'm a bloke not in the know about these tech issues - so tanalised, do i guess right this is NOT good then?

Well I've looked it up on google and to be honest I wouldn't use it personally - it does contain toxins which can leach into the ground and surrounding plants etc., If you burn it you will poison yourself! I'd stick to good old Plywood to be honest (cant go wrong there can you) and a sheet of MDF for the bottom


ETA - it has arsenic in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[labmad]

Blimey, thats a miss then

will go check out some ply and mdf from B&Q this week

Thanks for your help Mrs M - appreciate it

[Tilly1988]

My OH fits decking.

The green tinge is treated to stop it swelling/splitting in rain, basically designed for outdoor use.

I'mnot sure as far as the toxicity goes but better to be safe than sorry. You can buy untreated decking.

Also skirting comes up to 6" but it would be difficult for you to make a solid, neat looking structure out of it as its quite thin.

How about making a frame out of 2x2? then place plywood on the exterior or non treated decking.