Spruce as posts?

[swinny]

Hi there, looking into making a wood shelter at some point. Have picked up some 10ft spruce lengths the other day.

 

Would these be ok to use as posts for a wood shelter? or would they rot to quick etc?

 

Would save 10.00 a post so 150.00 ish with how many i would need....

 

CHeers Chris

[swinny]

Anyone?

[Stephen Blair]

Larch is better for sure:)

[farmer rod]

Larch is better for sure:)

 

if its going in the ground then oak or sweet chestnut

[agg221]

if its going in the ground then oak or sweet chestnut

 

Or robinia.

 

Larch is OK outside but not great at the point of contact with the ground. Spruce isn't worth bothering with - it rots off too fast. The alternative of course is to design your shelter so that it rests on pads (stone/concrete slabs) with a separating membrane to stop the wood coming into ground contact. You can then use pretty much anything for parts of the structure where rain won't hit them.

 

Alec

[openspaceman]

Anyone?

 

Spruce won't last in contact with the ground, it also resists preservatives unless by sap displacement when green.

 

If you must use them cut a chainsaw slot in the bottm to take a 6mm steel plate embedded in a concrete stanchion/pedestal and through bolt.