Can anybody suggest a locost/reused material suitable for using outdoors. Im making a climbing frame for my daughter and one of the walls will be a giant connect 4 but i cant think what to make it from without spending a fortune, i dont think plywood will last very long as ill be drilling 4" holes in it. Only thing i can think of was the stuff car trailer floors are made of but i dont know how much that is.
The sheet neeeds to be about 3ftx4ft and strong enough so they dont fall through it.

i'd have thought properly treated and painted marine ply would last longer than shes living at home

is marine ply different to the outdoor ply they sell at the local wood yard?

yes marine ply would last years but its 50quid a sheat

quote:

---

Originally posted by jpindy3
yes marine ply would last years but its 50quid a sheat

---

Was thinking something like the 12mm plywood i can get locally for £20-25. £50 is probably a bit too much really

well you would need to seal all the cuts anyway, so 'normal' 12mm ply with a liberal coating of thick paint should last a couple of winters outdoors.

But its the old saying, you get what you pay for. We use at work cheap ply for intenal work and good quality ply for external. You can tell the difference.

Get yourself down to Wicks, they have exterior ply in thickness's of 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, & 18mm. Sheet sizes are 1827 by 607 or 1220 by 607. Dearest price is £27.99, I have used this outside for five years without problem.

Just paint it in nice bright exterior gloss, I do my dogs houses every couple of years and they still look like new

What rots wooden stuff is it being next to the damp ground or grass so keep it clear of that. I raised the dogs houses to prevent that and put plastic sheet directly underneath.

Its about 5ft in the air so that shouldnt be a problem Off to Wickes it is then cheers

pitty you dont live near me i would of got for you from work at a pound a mm so 12mm ply wold cost 12 quid etc if you want the natural timber look use yatch varnish http://www.ronseal.co.uk/products/product.jsp?id=33
the link is just a guide

The main difference with marine ply is the glue - it doesn't fall apart when it gets wet.