The suitability of using standing dead Elm for a garden structure.

[Baldbloke]

As per the title, is this suitable for outside in a garden?

 

Planning on using four trunks as uprights over a patio purely as I’ve access to plenty. It’s all standing dead without bark and as hard as nails. Planning on welding up some heavy feet to keep the bases away from ground dampness and giving the wood a few coats of clear preservative. Am I being stupid, or have my plans merit?

[Khriss]

As long as it looks how you want it to , sounds fine - am currently overlooking next doors pergola ( pine 9" beams ) collapsing with decay      K

[dumper]

Weld plates so the water isn’t trapped at the bottom remove the bark ,you are better off if you can use heartwood, might be too large.think about the top stop water collecting in the joints and most important post pictures when complete 

[Baldbloke]

Weld plates so the water isn’t trapped at the bottom remove the bark ,you are better off if you can use heartwood, might be too large.think about the top stop water collecting in the joints and most important post pictures when complete 

Was planning on selecting trunk sizes suitable to go rather than getting it milled out. It’ll have a roof over the structure but it will be fit and finished by chainsaw. Pictures🤣I’ll see how rustic it looks, and nothing will be happening until the end of the summer.

[Squaredy]

Woodworm can be a problem with Elm, though the heartwood should still last a fair few years.  And of course look out for pockets of rot.  Otherwise sounds like it will be lovely.  Am jealous in fact - wish I had loads of Elm near me...

[devon TWiG]

These are very old Elm , there were screws for a Cider press but have been in this barn for many decades now  !!

[doobin]

1 hour ago, devon TWiG said:

These are very old Elm , there were screws for a Cider press but have been in this barn for many decades now  !!

That's hardly a fair comparison- West Country zider will pickle most things!

[Baldbloke]

Woodworm can be a problem with Elm, though the heartwood should still last a fair few years.  And of course look out for pockets of rot.  Otherwise sounds like it will be lovely.  Am jealous in fact - wish I had loads of Elm near me...

The bigger ones only have girth diameters of around 15” as it has grown together tightly packed. There’s height but no specimens or burrs. In previous cutting it seems the rot is limited to the bases and roots. The bigger the trees, the more the more the rot extends further up the trunk from the root. I took down a large elm in the garden a few years ago and the heartwood near the base was like blotting paper for eight foot up the trunk. I’ll just be selecting 4 to 6 uprights of around 12” diameter, coating them as much clear preservative as they’ll take and ensuring the eaves of the roof help protect them further from the elements.

[Baldbloke]

These are very old Elm , there were screws for a Cider press but have been in this barn for many decades now  !!

What a lovely old barn.

[devon TWiG]

55 minutes ago, Baldbloke said:

What a lovely old barn.

I just remembered the cladding is Elm as well  !!     I have used old engine oil to paint / treat timber with and it is a lovely colour when first done . if done when it is dry it soaks in well so as not to be messy to touch ...