OT: Plastic Lumber Questions

jamscal · Nov 17, 2016

I have a few projects that will use plastic lumber as you would see in a park/playground.

Does anyone have a good source? Do you buy online or local?

Is there a spec or chemical name I need to be looking for?

We have the man-made decking at the local Lowe's/HD but that's not what I'm looking for.

Thanks

Eric M · Nov 17, 2016

jamscal said:
I have a few projects that will use plastic lumber as you would see in a park/playground.

Does anyone have a good source? Do you buy online or local?

Is there a spec or chemical name I need to be looking for?

We have the man-made decking at the local Lowe's/HD but that's not what I'm looking for.

Thanks

The "lumber" you're referring to is typically made from recycled plastic. You indicated you are looking for what "you would see in a park / playground", yet the man-made decking at your local big box isn't it. What's wrong with the decking?

Chip Chester · Nov 17, 2016

Well, decking isn't dimensional lumber stock, for one.
To the OP, what showed up when you Googled "recycled plastic lumber"?
That should answer a few, but not all, of your questions...

Chip

JST · Nov 17, 2016

I had same problem.

It's time to "make dirt" around here from the composted stuff of the last year, and re-load the big composter with new stuff, and a dose of the old in it as a starter. But the composter chose this year to be too rotted to fix, so it needs to be re-built.

It has been wood, Cedar, but that is expensive, and rots out anyhow. I wanted to find plastic 2 x 4 etc, but nobody seems to have anything but the decking, which is essentially "1 x" in various widths. I can use that for slats and chutes, but it's not structural

Not only that, but the backside is grooved.

Kyle Smith · Nov 17, 2016

I use The Plastic Lumbar Yard. Service is great, the only negative is if the board comes in an 18' length you have to buy the whole thing. The material is recycled polyethylene and is very easy to work with. Anything I build for outdoor use I make from it.

Plastic Lumber Yard >> Plastic Lumber Yard

abarnsley · Nov 17, 2016

Another source, they say good for retaining walls..

FiberForce Recycled Plastic Lumber | Bedford Technology

SteveBausch · Nov 17, 2016

Trex has come as 2x4, but it's NOT in the least structural.

One of us could google "structural Trex lumber"...

The answer is No, and the Trex Elevations steel framing components aren't to be used within .6 mile of water.

Perhaps someone is roll-forming stainless into structural elements?

SteveBausch · Nov 17, 2016

Kyle Smith said:
I use The Plastic Lumbar Yard. Service is great, the only negative is if the board comes in an 18' length you have to buy the whole thing. The material is recycled polyethylene and is very easy to work with. Anything I build for outdoor use I make from it.

Plastic Lumber Yard >> Plastic Lumber Yard

The structural grade will cost you $6 a foot for a two by four.

JST · Nov 17, 2016

For me, the 2 x 4 do not have to be THAT structural, they just hold slats, and need to be stiffer than the slats by as much as a 2 x 4 is vs a 1 x 6. "Not as floppy as a 1 x ".

I have other blocking issues, so the lack of the bin is not such a big deal yet.... The shredding /grinding machine chose today to need a carburetor rebuild....and the "whashers" that do the cutting all seem to need sharpened too.

Always good when you see the carb dripping a steady stream of gas through the air cleaner.... it's got debris in the jets for sure. I was going to at least shred and make a big pile, but ........ Always something

EPAIII · Nov 17, 2016

Pressure treated?

jamscal · Nov 17, 2016

Thanks for the replies.

I had found some suppliers via google but wanted to get some first hand info if possible.

I'm getting a quote from the Plastic Lumber Yard.

Mike C. · Nov 17, 2016

Yeah, don't try to use that decking for anything structural. It's flimsy as hell. You can pick up one end of an 8ft board to waist high and half the rest of it will still be flat on the ground. You have to use 12" spacing on your joists or it flexes like crazy. That's why I didn't use it.

JST · Nov 17, 2016

EPAIII said:
Pressure treated?

Not for me, it leaches into the compost and poisons the "dirt", which is used for edibles.

true temper · Nov 18, 2016

EPAIII said:
Pressure treated?

I hate the stuff I built a large deck 1 year ago, now the post are all twisted makes me look like a poor craftsman.

Weirsdale George · Nov 18, 2016

If this is a structural item and not an appearance item, why don't you take some "1x" plastic lumber, rip it to a desired width (if the size you want is not available) and make a two or three ply structural element using SS screws?

Booze Daily · Nov 18, 2016

Sink some 4" PVC pipe in the ground like a post and fill it with cement

adama · Nov 18, 2016

Best i have seen over here is made from slotted concrete fence posts, drop in 6" concrete gravel boards with some plastic spacers made from chunks of heavy plastic pipe for air flow for the sides, front was just wood pannels and the bottom few when rotted out just get chucked. They had it set up as 3 bins so they could sorta cycle them. Few bushes around it and a large tree for shade and it worked well.

Kyle Smith · Nov 18, 2016

A few projects made from the plastic lumbar, flower box, sign, coffee tables, and window boxes. I did not build the swing. I bought it from local Amish who make an assortment of outdoor furniture from the material.

henrya · Nov 18, 2016

Look at this stuff (thermally modified wood):

Cambia Wood - Thermally Modified Wood

AWCo

http://www.ecovantagewood.com/

Find a vendor near you and price it.
I think you would be very pleased with it for your use.

steve45 · Nov 18, 2016

I've used some recycled plastic 'lumber' from Stop-Painting.com | InSite Solutions LLC You'll have to do a search of their website for it, it's buried in the Facility Maintenance & Safety section. They were helpful in cutting 12' pieces down so they could be shipped for a more reasonable price.

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