Timber Posts 10ft 5 x 5 inch - where to buy?

Kickstart86

I am building a fence and I am looking for some 10-12ft posts of 5x5inch or 6x6inch.
I am based in North County Dublin and nowhere seems to do them. Does anyone have any experience of going directly to a sawmill with this request? Thanks

Lumen

I would find a local sawmill that advertises products directly, like:

http://www.standishsawmills.ie/posts-and-strainers/

(but more local to you)

I found this by searching for fence posts strainers ireland as this gives more of a focus on equestrian/farming than normal builders merchants.

Remember that creosote treatment is illegal for residential use as it's toxic/carcingenic.

My local timber supplier (but not local to you) can supply treated timber in bespoke dimensions and the leadtime is only a couple of days more. You probably just need to hit the phone a bit harder.

Calahonda52

Lumen wrote: »

I would find a local sawmill that advertises products directly, like:

http://www.standishsawmills.ie/posts-and-strainers/

(but more local to you)

I found this by searching for fence posts strainers ireland as this gives more of a focus on equestrian/farming than normal builders merchants.

Remember that creosote treatment is illegal for residential use as it's toxic/carcingenic.

My local timber supplier (but not local to you) can supply treated timber in bespoke dimensions and the leadtime is only a couple of days more. You probably just need to hit the phone a bit harder.

If I read you correctly, you can't use creosote treated timber in a residential garden?

Any links to the legality blurb?
Should one note it in a house survey?

Lumen

Calahonda52 wrote: »

If I read you correctly, you can't use creosote treated timber in a residential garden?

Any links to the legality blurb?

Here's a start, although it's written to target sleepers specifically:

https://www.epa.ie/pubs/advice/waste/transfrontiershipmentofwaste/Waste%20Re-classification%2018-10-06.pdf

The marketing and use of Creosote and preparations containing Creosote as well as Creosote-treated wood has been banned by Directive 76/769/EEC, as last amended by Commission Directive 2001/90/EC which took effect on June 30th 2003. This Directive was transposed into Irish Law under the European Communities (Dangerous Substances and Preparations) (Marketing and Use) Regulations 2003.

However by way of derogation, Creosote may be used for wood treatment in industrial installations or by professionals covered by Community legislation on the protection of workers for in-situ retreatment only if it contains: benzo-a-pyrene at a concentration of less than 0.005% by mass and water extractable phenols at a concentration of less than 3% by mass. In essence primary treatment, outside an industrial context, is expressly prohibited.

As I read that, creosote is illegal by default with exemption for industrial use.

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Should one note it in a house survey?

Dunno, seems reasonable. It's fairly obvious to the trained eye.

edit: it's possible that I'm mis-reading that legislation and that it's only the application of the creosote to the wood that has to be carried out in an industrial context, rather than in situ, which would mean that the end use of the treated product is irrelevant. However, even if that's the case, you're never going to be able to re-treat the wood after the initial application. I would do some more research only I don't have time/can't be bothered right this second!

Calahonda52

Thanks, as always, to your commitment to us all learning here.

anyway, the link has more intel: the underline is mine

Wood treated in industrial installations or retreated by professionals, in accordance with the previous paragraph which is placed on the market for the first time is permitted for professional and industrial use only, e.g. on railways, in electric power transmission and telecommunications, for fencing, for agricultural purposes and in harbours and waterways.

However, Creosote-treated wood may not be used:
• inside buildings, whatever their purpose,
• in toys,
• in playgrounds,
• in parks, gardens, and outdoor recreational and leisure facilities where there is a risk of frequent skin contact,
• in the manufacture of garden furniture such as picnic tables,
• for the manufacture and use and any re-treatment of containers intended for
growing purposes,
• packaging that may come into contact with raw materials, intermediate or finished products destined for human and/or animal consumption,
• other materials which may contaminate the products mentioned above.

I was interested as I have used 6 by 6 stakes in a garden fence, from an agri co-op, the posts are at the back of the normally treated timber so no frequent skin contact

Lumen

FWIW I think I've seen on websites selling farm fencing that they cannot be used in gardens. As far as your case is concerned, yes, it's skin contact that's the main problem. I read a toxicology study a few years ago on it. There are lads on boards recommending dipping fencing stakes in used engine oil as treatment, so it's hardly the worst of crimes.

But obviously it poses end of use disposal issues so should be avoided anyway.

macgabhs

Kickstart86 wrote: »

I am building a fence and I am looking for some 10-12ft posts of 5x5inch or 6x6inch.
I am based in North County Dublin and nowhere seems to do them. Does anyone have any experience of going directly to a sawmill with this request? Thanks

try Fingal farm supplies in Oldtown or whites Agri in Lusk.

macgabhs

Kickstart86 wrote: »

I am building a fence and I am looking for some 10-12ft posts of 5x5inch or 6x6inch.
I am based in North County Dublin and nowhere seems to do them. Does anyone have any experience of going directly to a sawmill with this request? Thanks

Also Murtaghs in Ashbourne are stockists for woodford timber.