Roof battens

peteS

There are a raft of old roof battens which are used under the slates/tiles, being taken off some 1930's properties near me at the moment, and I am curious to know if anyone had ever used such things to make a trellis. They look ideal, but I was wondering if they would be sufficiently weatherproof to use in such a way. Cheers. 

steephill

@SporophyteBoy has made good use of them, see here https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1028300/gardening-with-the-moon-biodynamics-part-two/p45

Palustris

All the trellis work in our previous garden was made from Roofing laths. I painted them all with green wood preserving paint. Took some doing as there was a kilometre of fencing in the garden.

peteS

Thanks all...very useful to know. I think I will go and ask someone very nicely.

K67

Always use roof batten and paint before making up. Touching up cut ends when assembled 

nick615

I'll predict that their lifespan will be on the short side.  The battens will have been 'cooked' repeatedly in summers, thus tending to make them super absorbent.  I salvaged all the stuff when we had our 1982 place re-roofed a few years back.  The timber came in very useful and lasted a few years but, as a trellis, you'll be thinking more long term?  My bonus was saving all the galvanised nails that are still as good as the day they were put in

peteS

Good points @nick615...I have salvaged enough to make a trellis now, and they are very weathered looking but very dry, so I'll keep them under cover until I get round to painting some preservative into them, which could be a long job.