Thread: Timber for Geodesic Biodome

G'day Gedome and welcome to our collective addictions!!

Wouldn't touch Oregon, recycled or otherwise.

The best timbers I can think of due to your moisture problems are Huon Pine ( forget I said that, it's very, very expensive) , or perhaps Celery Top Pine.Tallowood could well do the job if you can procure it.

If I was doing the job I would opt for Galvanised RHS or pipe, or aluminium.

No reason at all for treated pine to warp. You see it in all sorts of outdoor construction. That said, it would be prudent to fix the timber in such a way that warping is not an option.

So what timber do they use?

Treated pine prolly OK! Maybe Cypress pine would work too!

What is it to be used for?

Is it going to be a green house?

Much easier & cheaper to build a tunnel.

Mark out your garden/ growing racks/proposted structure.

Bang in a row of steel pickets a couple of metres apart down one edge of the proposed structure & then bag in corresponding one on the opposite side of the proposed structure.

Now get a roll of poply pipe in a size big enough to go over the steel post, probley 50mm (2")

The poly will have to be cut into lengths so the each end pushes down over the pickets on each side of the garden to make an arch so stick your roll on the ground one one side & pull the end off & stretch it up over to the picket on the over side & then eyeball it to the right shape & height & cut it. (allow a bit more 'cos you can always cut a bit off)

Now test fit it & trim to the correct length for the desired height in the middle & use that as the pattern to cut the rest.

Wack them all on & cover it. Bingo.

Ideas here.... just make them big enough to walk into.

poly pipe garden tunnel hoops - Google Search

Buiilding frames for insect netting and row covers

Hoop house construction for GrowCover row cover fabric

How to Build a PVC Hoophouse for your Garden - The Westside Gardener