Fir wood protection for outside?
 

Hi, I am getting a nice planter structure build of fir wood. Not sure
what kind of fir.

I am not sure if I will put on concrete or the lawn yet, but I would
like to add something to protect the wood from weather and watering.
But the protectant should not contaminate the soil that is below it or
the plants in the planter.

Any suggestion? I heard linseed oil would be good? Where do you get
it?

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi, I am getting a nice planter structure build of fir wood. Not sure
what kind of fir.
The termites are certainly going to like you.

I am not sure if I will put on concrete or the lawn yet, but I would
like to add something to protect the wood from weather and watering.
But the protectant should not contaminate the soil that is below it or
the plants in the planter.
On pressure treated wood will last. The current products have eliminated
the use of arsenic.

Any suggestion? I heard linseed oil would be good? Where do you get
it?

You buy linseed oil at a paint store.
Jim

Duane Bozarth wrote:
wrote:

Hi, I am getting a nice planter structure build of fir wood. Not
sure what kind of fir.

[snip]

A nice wood planter should be given a nice plastic liner. Check around at
the local stores to find a pot or planter or plastic wastebasket that would
fit inside it fairly well. Drill a few holes in the liner of your choice
if it doesn't have any already. Be sure your new planter has drain holes,
too.

Next a nice wood planter would have something under the feet for either
concrete or on the grass. Wood of your choice would be okay since you
could afford to throw away these two (three) pieces of wood at the end of
every season when you'd empty the planter, wash it up, store it for the off
season.

Once you have a liner and good intentions about keeping it on wood above
the ground and putting it up for the winter you can paint your planter with
almost anything that will hold up to weather. If you think of the planter
as a house you need to paint then you have the right idea about how it
should be painted.

Several spray companies have outdoor spray sealers and many good colors of
outdoor paint colors.

Josie

Hopefully the planter has not yet been built.

wood in contact with soil is not a good idea for longivity of the wood.
neither is allowing the wood to be constantly moist.

This is a major invitation for dry rot & insects.

Good outside woods would be; teak, redwood, mahogoney(sp?)

but you best bet is a liner; copper or plastic (thick ~1/16" min)

Do right this thing will last many years, done cheap a few at best

If you put the planter right on the lawn or concrete w/o an air gap &
"water resistant feet" the bottom will rot out in no time.

Wood can last for centuries, if kept dry, moist it can be gone in a few
seasons.

OTOH, if you use non-toxic finishes this planter can be mulch for the
next one :)

cheers
Bob

"BobK207" wrote in message
oups.com...

Wood can last for centuries, if kept dry, moist it can be gone in a few
seasons.


Centuries if kept wet, too. At least one case where moderation isn't the
optimum.

firstjois wrote:

Duane Bozarth wrote:
wrote:

Hi, I am getting a nice planter structure build of fir wood. Not
sure what kind of fir.

[snip]

A nice wood planter should be given a nice plastic liner. ...

Actually the window boxes I built use heavy screen for the bottoms and
then set the plants in pots or such...similar would work for a planter,
as well...

Thanks. I am going to put it on concrete instead of lawn / soil, then
and then maybe use bricks to shim it up to minimize ground contact.

Can you recommend any product that is preferably clear but will seal
the wood against termites and dry rot? Something like a laquer,
polyurethane, stain so I could think about it some more. I do not
wish to attract termintes near my home, do the sealers help protect
against insects?

I might just use a plastic pot as a liner and modify the bottom
material of the planter, so the wood does not need to be wet during
watering.

I know fir it is not the choice of the wood for outside, rot resistance
wood for the same item would cost 3 times at much I would think. I
don't expect this to last forever.. just a way to prolong it's life no
matter what it is made of, which is why I'm asking the question here.

Thanks