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Using plywood outside

 
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bimini



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 156

PostPosted: Sun Nov 15, 20 8:02 pm    Post subject: Using plywood outside Reply with quote
    

I am planning on making a bird table and an owl nestbox using plywood. My local merchant doesn't stock exterior quality ply and has suggested that hardwood ply would be fine outside if I treat it with waterproofing. Any advice? Thanks in advance.

 
dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 20 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

basic roofing board will last a decade, good ply and varnish ditto

marine ply is best for any damp situation, not immortal but quite robust

unless it has plastic veneer all sides and it does not need cutting avoid owt with a chipboard core

up cycle is a tidy way to find materials for such projects, offcuts or bits of redundant furniture etc can be useful, spend the cash on good fixings

PS the birds don't mind what it is made of or what it looks like if it holds their lunch or makes a house
you can paint it to blend in etc

for an owl house a plastic barrel or other owl size box with a suitable porch/door works

 
Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16000

PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 20 8:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Does it have to be plywood? As Dpack says, you may be able to get offcuts of timber from odd places that would do the job. We have used our own western red cedar for bird boxes in the past. They were popular with purchasers and also with the birds as one couple came back for another one a month later as the first one was already inhabited.

 
Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 20 10:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I’ve done some reading around this. To make an proper house for a decent owl it needs a sign, so everyone knows.

‘WOL’

 
tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 20 11:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Plywood will look tatty after a while, I'd definitely go for solid timber if possible. Plywood will probably be usable for 10 years or so just won't look nice.

Oh, and remember Nick is a tit

 
dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 20 11:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    


 
Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 20 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
Plywood will look tatty after a while, I'd definitely go for solid timber if possible. Plywood will probably be usable for 10 years or so just won't look nice.

Oh, and remember Nick is a tit



This seems harsh.

 
Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 20 7:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
tahir wrote:
Plywood will look tatty after a while, I'd definitely go for solid timber if possible. Plywood will probably be usable for 10 years or so just won't look nice.

Oh, and remember Nick is a tit



This seems harsh.

..but fair.

 
dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46249
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 20 9:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i am a bit of a booby at times if that helps

 
Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16000

PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 20 8:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick, it does, but even WOL couldn't spell, so not much chance of the real ones being able to either.

 
Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 20 4:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mistress Rose wrote:
Nick, it does, but even WOL couldn't spell, so not much chance of the real ones being able to either.



 
Rusticwood



Joined: 01 Dec 2009
Posts: 2154
Location: All over the South West
PostPosted: Tue Nov 17, 20 10:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I agree with the others even painted or varnished ply will start separating after a few years if you dont keep refreshing it. Timber would be better.
If you do have to use ply a good WBP ply would be as good as a marine ply ( marine is more resistant to marine borers )

 
Shan



Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales
PostPosted: Wed Nov 18, 20 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Red Cedar would be an excellent choice.

 
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