Uses for cedar decking scraps

[CraigP]

We're getting a new deck built and I am finding there seems to be a decent amount of decking scraps. Pieces range from about 12" to 30". The frame is timbersil and the decking and fencing are western red cedar.

In the contract the cedar is described as 'fire treated' so I'm wondering what that means. Chemical spray? I read that cedar is much more fire resistant than other woods, but I have a feeling it means more than that.

I thought the scraps could be used to build a couple flower boxes, but if the chemicals will kill the plants, that would be a waste. If anything, I'll use the scraps to build a shelf for my future workbench. Functional, and it'll smell great! Any other ideas for what I could do with cedar scraps? Such a nice wood I hate to send it to the dump.

 

[LeonardY]

It's probably similar to any pressure treated lumber. Ask the contractor for the MSDS on the material or if you know the manufacturer you can look it up on their website.

 

[LocoCoco]

So a contractor is building the deck? Be sure to let him know you want to keep the scraps, otherwise they may automatically haul them away and charge a "disposal" fee.

For possible uses I have no idea what I'd use them for right now. However, I'd still want to keep some of it. Scrap wood is worth its weight in gold when you really need that one little piece...



LC.

 

[southalabama]

birdhouses

 

[mdbeck1]

Ideas:
- Cut to small lengths (6"X6"X3/4"), drill a couple holes in it, sand all sides, and hang in the closet. It helps to keep the moths away from your clothes.
- I saw birdhouses
- Flower boxes are good. If the plants die you haven't lost any money
- If they are large enough make a large box to bolt to the deck and add a padlock for cushion storage.

There's always something to do with scrap. When it gets too small I toss it in the fireplace.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

birdhouses

Yup.

 

[wssix99]

In the contract the cedar is described as 'fire treated' so I'm wondering what that means. Chemical spray? I read that cedar is much more fire resistant than other woods, but I have a feeling it means more than that.

They say an "environmentally friendly fire retardant" http://www.chemco.us/media/pdf/potlatch_pr_01102005.pdf

The only environmentally friendly fire retardant I know of is water, but I don't think that's what they are using!

I would think it would be safe for planters. Otherwise your deck runoff would kill the grass, etc.

 

[Weps]

if not problematic due to the retardant, shoe trees and coat/suit hangers. they make for good gifts as well.

 

[Bear]

OK - so western red ceder is not the same as the "aroma" red ceder used to line closits etc.
It is a great material for decks, shake roofs, and fence posts (I've split hundreds) as it resits rot for a long time. If it is treated should be even better. I don't know about treated wood but untreated it burns VERY well. I always used it for kindeling in the wood stove because it would light so easy and burn so quick.

 

[trainer]

I made this out of Western Red cedar.

 

[nate379]

Firewood.

 

[Gary S]

OK - so western red ceder is not the same as the "aroma" red ceder used to line closits etc.

Correct. Western Red Cedar is a true cedar of the family thuja. Aromatic red cedar isn't really a cedar. It is a juniper of the family juniperus.

 

[madstat]

There's a guy at our local farmer's market who sells these small kid size Adirondak chairs. We don't even have kids and I have to pry my wife away from buying one of them every time. She thinks they are the "cutest thing ever".

-madstat

 

[scott37300]

I was at the store the other day with my mom and she was looking at bird houses and they were really expensive for some cedar nailed together. If you can use a bird house it would be a great use.

 

[5lima30]

How about plant stands for your new deck?

 

[harrisor]

Mulch?

 

[mastiff0]

I've always wondered if you could mill the boards flat and glue and screw them to make larger pieces of lumber worth anything. I just had to replace part of my 2yr old cedar fence because of stupid Home Owner Association reasons, so I have a ton of boards with no rot sitting in my driveway.

 

[CraigP]

@wssix99 - good point on the runoff killing the grass if it were really bad (ps: WS6's are bad ***!)
@trainer - nice canoe! I bet it took some skill and time to put that together!

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. I believe planters and plant stands are the way I will head. And a shelf for my workbench since free wood is free wood. I don't like the idea of a birdhouse since I don't know what was used to make it fire retardant and I woudln't want to harm any innocent little tweeters. Same for coat hangers, shoe trees, inserts for my closet to repel bugs, and firewood (indoors, at least, don't want to inhale bad fumes).

I did talk with the contractor and he said the cedar is soaked in the fire retardant and then dried, so it isn't just a top coat. He tried lighting a piece, out of curiosity, and said it wouldn't take.

Once I get something built in a few weeks, I'll post back to let you see what I come up with. Until then, keep the ideas coming!

 

[CraigP]

Just catching up on my old posts here. I used the extra cedar to build a couple flower boxes and the flowers survived the summer, so we're good to go from that point. I also used the cedar to build one side of my workbench. Since it's 3/4" thick I can hang random stuff on it without worrying about it falling apart. I've also made a pipe clamp rack and storage container for use in the garage. I only have 4-5 more pieces left so my cedar building days are numbered!