Wandered over from the sawdust sandpile. I’ve been asked to laminate 18″ tall by 6.75″ wide beams for bocce ball court. Bottom on concrete footer, outside partially buried, top covered with copper or aluminum cap. Will be sprinkled daily to maintain the clay surface and surrounding grass. Buried surfaces will get epoxy paint.
Wondering what wood might last in this environment. Only suggestion from local lumber yard marine plywood, and I don’t know if it would last with ground contact. If used, customer wants it covered on exposed face with hardwood. Would mahogany be rot resistant if a 1/2″ or 3/4″ x 18″ board were laminated to the marine plywood?
Is it possible to get kiln dried treated lumber? Are there any other wood suggestions?
Thanks for your suggestions.
Replies
Black locust will last almost forever with ground contact. Ipe would do well, but I don't think it would hold paint. There are some other tropical woods that would work similar to ipe, but they're probably less available.
zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
Thanks for the input, Zak. Black locust would be an ideal wood if it were available in sufficient quantity. I'll probably call a few local sawmills and inquire. This bocce ball court is 70' x 10', so I would need to make laminated beams 18" x 6.75" x about 180'.
Don,How 'bout footings and masonry?Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood
The railings have to be wood.Anyone have any experience with marine plywood and ground contact?
Marine plywood is made for stress not for long life,the only differance beteen it and regular cdx is no voids that is the plys are clear/knot free. It will rot just as fast as any plywood in the ground. John
I use a lot of pressure treated plywood....mostly 1/2" and 3/4" and in either CDX or A/C grade (Doug Fir). We use the A/C for dock ramps, backing for short retaining walls and walk-on roofdeck sheathing.
It's a .40 treatment and holds up very well in ground contact situations without decay or delamination.
Your yard should be able to get it for you wherever you are.
We have a couple of treatment plants nearby so our cost is reasonable, but you can probably figure a markup of 30% or so over an untreated sheet of whatever grade you specify.
The rails must be wood.
How about concrete beams / footings with inlaid wood for railings, such that the wood could be replaced in years to come? Seems to me, someone will thank you and / or consider you a wise planner in the future.
Edited 10/20/2006 11:10 am ET by txlandlord
Your cheapest bet is 4x pt beams - .40 for earth contact. The beams are the least of it - all the bracing, drainage etc. is the real work & cost... Here's an example from the US Bocce Federation:
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At the risk of giving the obvious and useless answer... our bocce ball courts here are walled with 6X8 timbers treated ACQ.
http://www.petedraganic.com/
How about laminating Trex? Lasts forever, kinda looks like wood and can be handled, machined just like wood.
I think that composite lumbers (trex, et al) expand and contract to much for either laminating or use in this situation. 70' continuous could be problematic for sure.
http://www.petedraganic.com/