Is ply ok for garden bench slats

[neiloneil]

I have been persuaded to renovate a garden bench. Cast iron end with wooden slat type.
There's no real money in the pot for buying decent hardwood, so could I use ply?
Wickes and B&Q do a Temperate Softwood Ply (Structural) for reasonable money.
There are 5 weight bearing slats 60 x 18 x 1200 . They are supported 50mm in from each end with just a tie strip midway. Would this support two adults
If so, and if I were to prime , undercoat and finish it would it last two or three years?

 

[Burnerman]

I think even the best quality WBP ply would tend to delaminate over the years.....if hardwood is a no go, then tanalised timber laths could be an option.
I'd go thicker than 18mm, personally.
John

 

[catlad]

Hardwood unless it is to be stored undercover when not in use. Last time I looked they were £12.99 in wilkinsons.

 

[^woody^]

Ply, any ply, would be no good in terms of weather resistance. And I would suspect no good anyway when cut to use as slats.

I wonder if the cheapest option would be to select some knot-free 22mm floorboards, rip them down to size and treat? Our gate is still going strong after 12 years

 

[joe-90]

25mm CCA is best. Done it loads of times,

 

[gregers]

i think even marine ply wont last.
why not keep a look out in the free ads/face book(buy swap sell)or friday ad.loads of peeps getting rid of things that maybe you can butcher and remake what you need.

 

[timbo46]

I've got the same thing to do whenI get around to it, I was going to get some hardwood decking and rip it down into slats.

 

[neiloneil]

Thank you. Lots of good helpful suggestions here. Think I'll ask around for hardwood decking off cuts that I can have ripped to size.

Anyone got any apare? Chippenham area, Wilts. SN13.

 

[Diyisfun]

I used decking to do mine this year, just run it down the saw.
I also replaced the timbers on the garden table the same way

 

[scbk]

I would think even cheap whitewood spruce/pine would last longer outside than ply (and be cheaper too)

Larch would work really well and only cost a few quid, if there's a good local sawmill