Wood is now being used in multi level buildings around the world. Improvements in wood technology, including laminated beams and glulam have improved the structural strength of wood whilst still retaining its undeniable aesthetic appeal. Timber has a lower carbon footprint and is environmentally friendly and sustainable. Builders find it is faster and lighter. If you want inspiration and motivation – have a look at these “About Naturally Wood” (Bristish Columia, Canada) short videos about how wood is being used in community buildings.

Raised Garden Bed

The price of vegies is forever going up plus people are more and more concerned about eating chemical free food.  There is a huge trend to grow your own vegetables and herbs.  Many people want to have raised garden beds for this purpose.  The question is what’s the best choice and how to go about it.

There is a variety of timber and sizes that can be used  but generally the most common is pine –  200 x 75 or 200 x 50 treated pine sleepers.  Most people will put two of these on top of each other – a very common size for the raised bed is  2.4 x 1.2 meters and 400mm high.  So you need 6 sleepers.  The cost of the timber for a solid and sturdy bed with 400mm high walls would be between $80 to $120 depending on the thickness of the timber and the type of treatment you choose.

Sleepers for this purpose come in various standard lengths  -2.4, 3.0, 3.6, 4.8 and 6.0.  We would suggest you plan the beds to fit into these lengths so that you don’t pay for any waste in offcuts.

After cutting (which can be done by the supplier) the sleepers are placed on the ground in position then the corners are screwed together with 75mm or 100mm bugle batten screws.  Some people will put a short 75 x 50 post in each corner for extra stability but this is not absolutely necessary.  Other people like to use metal connectors at the corners.

Depending on what you are growing in the garden bed  ie: vegetables versus flowers – some people choose to use an eco friendly treated pine product which doesn’t contain arsenate in the treatment chemicals which preserve the wood.   You can also use the normal CCA treated product and if you are worried about any chemical leaching into the planting medium (soil, compost) you can line the box with thick black plastic.

100 x 17 2.1 paling fence with fence capping

Getting ready for the upcoming holiday season, Portland Bay Holiday Park have been doing lots of work upgrading the gardens and entrance to the park.  This week  a new front paling fence was completed.

Victorians tend to use 150mm and/or 100mm x 12mm thick treated pine palings whilst South Australians prefer 17mm thick palings.   The thinner the paling the more likely to warp or cup in hot summer weather.

This job used hardwood F8 100 x 100 2.7 posts and hardwood 75 x 50 4.8 rails, all treated to hazard level H4 – which is for use outside, in ground.  The hardwood was used for extra strength and the treatment will provide high fungal decay and termite protection.  The palings used were 100mm x 17mm 2.1 high and overlapped on each edge.  The overlapping will prevent gaps occurring when the timber contracts and expands as weather conditions change.

Timber is a natural product and when exposed to the rain, wind and sun it can warp, twist, cup and split.  However if the timber is securely fixed with good galvanized fixings, proper spacing of the posts and the palings overlapped these problems can be eliminated and your fence will last for years to come.  The use of fence capping also ensures integrity, decreases weather damage and looks great.

CCA treated timber will weather naturally when exposed to the elements, eventually from its pale green colour to a pleasing driftwood grey.

View more photos of landscaping, fencing &  improvements you can do these holidays on our facebook page.

by Tammy Whitehead, Whiteheads Timber Sales Portland 

Geoff Kerr from the Men’s Shed came in one day this week looking for some ‘bits and pieces’ of untreated timber they could use at the local Portland Men’s shed.   I showed Geoff around the place and the topic of our non-functioning mitre saw came up.  Geoff, a retired builder, insisted on helping me out so off he went down the street and we purchased an appropriate replacement.  The next day he came in with his friend Wayne Earle and they worked together to fit the new saw up in our custom lattice making room.   Just as they finished, Jack returned from the Mt Gambier retail yard with a load of timber donated from Whitehead’s Timber Sales.

Jack Whitehead, with shop dog Jerry Whitehead and Geoff Kerr from Portland Men’s Shed

So I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Geoff and Wayne for helping me out.

The Men’s Shed is still working on getting a proper building for their work.  They have started raising money in their building fund.  I have given them some ideas and offered to sell items they make on consignment at our yard which in turn will help with the fund raising.

The Portland Men’s Shed currently have meetings on Fridays 9.30 am to 4.00 pm at Neighbourhood house, Warratah crescent.  Any enquiries contact

Portland Mens Shed Inc

by Tammy Whitehead, Manager Whiteheads Timber Sales – WTS Timber & Garden Portland, Victoria