5 Great Uses for Treated Timber Poles
Treated timber is incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide variety of settings - we round up some great uses for treated poles in your next project!
Jungle gyms
There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing children at play, and one of best ways to grow their strength, endurance, playtime, and social skills is to construct a jungle gym. A staple of schools nearly everywhere, jungle gyms can be used to develop vital skills such as co-ordination and muscle strength among other benefits.
A benefit of using treated timber poles to construct a jungle gym is their longevity; treated timber is sturdy and can withstand the elements from excessive heart to inclement storms. A natural advantage is that treated timber poles can be rooted into the ground through a concrete foundation or could alternatively build upon an existing structure.
Treated timber, when sawn correctly, is also safe for young children and is not liable to split or splinter - varieties of timber can be constructed and arrayed to withstand multiple times their own weight, meaning that in a sound construction there is little to no risk of collapse or other danger.
Telecommunication transmission
Treated timber poles can be arrayed to transfer power or telecommunications line from one place to another - a useful example is to consider that Eskom uses treated timber with specialised fixtures to relay power in South Africa.
Treated timber doesn’t need to only be used for electricity, however - fibre providers have found that a far cheaper and simpler way to deliver internet access can be found through mounting optic cables above ground rather than having to trench through concrete or earth.
In fact, fibre telecommunications poles are being used around the world to relay internet access to previously unconnected areas - even as far remote as rural communities in West Africa.
Jetties and docks
When constructing a waterborne fixture such as jetty or dock, using correctly treated timber and anchoring it successfully to a riverbed or ocean floor is essential. When this has been done correctly, timber treated with CCA or Creosote makes an excellent choice as building material.
Creosote treatments, in particular, can withstand many years in even the roughest seas when anchored correctly - ensuring a stable jetty or dock no matter the climate.
Pergolas
It’s not uncommon to see pergolas in South Africa, where timber has been used to construct awning space to grow vines or cultivate shade. Given this fact, many builders opt to use specially treated timber in order to construct their desired shape or awning space.
Given that treated timber is regularly used to cultivate vines in orchards, nurseries, and even aid growing citrus fruit in farms, using a hard-wearing timber is vital when both constructing support poles and decking spaces.
Pergolas can quickly add a great deal of character to any home, whether modern or old - and its little surprise that many South African households choose to build one to add a finishing touch to a front porch or backyard.
Gazebos
In larger homes, estates, or common grounds, gazebos are often used as out-houses or ceremonial spaces and are frequently pictured in events such as weddings, birthdays, or religious gatherings.
Gazebos can be found in a variety of settings but are traditionally constructed in either wrought iron or timber. Given the variety of situations one might expect to use a gazebo for, treated timber can ensure longevity and use in a multitude of scenarios - such as whether a gazebo might be centred in a rolling forest or even on a coastline.
