Price Of Timber.

[Atheist]

Searched for a 4x4 8ft tanalised timber fence post today. £30.00! Some suppliers didn't have any. Is this a Brexit thing?

[gulliver1]

Atheist , you should have known better than to mention Brexit on a/b.

[naomi24]

I hang my laundry in front of the computer when the hot air emanating from the ever-whinging remainers is in full flow. The rest of the time I use a tumble dryer. It’s equally effective.

[jno]

well, at least that explains whose knickers I keep seeing when I try to look at AB!

[naomi24]

If I could wolf whistle I would. ;o)

[douglas9401]

Question posed about timber post/Brexit

Answer from Brexiteer: No idea why you would use timber anyway

Metal clothesline post and a bag of post fix is far easier and more durable.

Remainers deduce a shortage of timber coupled with price gouging from patriotic UK suppliers hell bent on early retirement on the backs of the feeble-minded.

[Atheist]

The metal posts I've seen advertised for c£20 are far too flimsy for a decent clothesline post. A length of scaffold pole would be ideal; I might check that option out. Thanks for the contributions so far.

[Smowball]

Atheist - I’m the same and never use the tumble dryer in my washing machine - I always put online and if not possible I put an indoors airer up, like I have today in my kitchen as it’s big, and put the washing on that. My MIL however, who is 70, has her tumble dryer on almost every day!! God knows how/why she has so much washing - there’s only two of them lol!

[Khandro]

No - a builder in my village can't start on a house because he cant get the timber he requires & we live near the Black Forest ! The problem is spiralling costs & problems of transportation.

Sorry, but it's nothing to do with Brexit

[AuntPG]

The price of Timber has rocketed, and not just for garden posts etc. The price at builders merchants has gone up 40% Its profiteering plain and simple. There is a shortage due to the holy Trinity (covid/Shipping/lack of HGVdrivers) and wholesalers know builders will pay whatever is necessary as they need the wood. this obviously filters back to the DIY shops and garden centres

[Atheist]

Khandro, do you think it's a pandemic thing?

[AuntPG]

Khndro, its ironic isn't it? WE see huge HGV's leading out massive felled trees from a commercial forest about 8 miles from us, where its going to I don't know because the shortage in local sawmills is very evident. We paid £65 each for gate posts on Saturday along with nearly £ 700 for fence posts and wire to cross fence an 2 acre paddock.

[Khandro]

//Khandro, do you think it's a pandemic thing?//

As Aunt PG says, it's certainly a contributing factor, what is also alarming is that it appears many people just don't want to go back to work!

[maggiebee]

Having a chat with my joiner friend. He was commenting not only on the lack of wood but the price rise. He works on new build houses and said the price of houses would be pushed up because of this and work held up.

[Stickybottle]

Avatar Image Atheist
Question Author The metal posts I've seen advertised for c£20 are far too flimsy for a decent clothesline post. A length of scaffold pole would be ideal; I might check that option out. Thanks for the contributions so far


I installed one for a friend last year
Took 30 minutes start to finish
It is robust and sturdy but if you want to use wood knock yourself out

[Atheist]

Sticky...
What was the diameter of the tube? How much did it cost? Was it a single post or was it made of two parts socketed together? How deep did you sink it, and what sort of soil was there? Did you use postcrete?

[Stickybottle]

Yes Atheist it was two pieces of galvanised steel socketed together
Dug a hole some 18 inches deep
Poured in one bag of postcrete from b&q
Added water and it was ready to use with an hour

[Atheist]

Thanks, sticky... And my other questions?
BTW, I've used Postcrete before and am a big fan. But, timber post or metal tube, it's the same amount of work. I don't like the sound of the cheap tubes, especially the two-part ones. I don't think the metal wood be strong enough to resist the pull of the line without bending, especially if it's a two-part post. How long has yours been in use?

[Stickybottle]

Ground was normal standard lawn and it was over a year ago
It is solid and I highly recommend the two piece construction
You need not worry because they are more than up to the task

[Atheist]

Sticky, thanks for your advice. Was the pole about £20 - ish?

[Stickybottle]

£20.95 on eBay

Here is a video of how easy it is
It is for a rotary dryer but the idea is exactly the same