| Q |
How
long does a WoodBlocX structure last? |
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|
| A |
WoodBlocX
is pressure treated with Tanalith E, a water based preservative which
fixes in the cells of the timber when it dries. The wood is dried
in a vacuum and then pressurised to 300 psi. If you cut a piece of
WoodBlocX in half you will find that the preservative has penetrated
virtually 100% of the wood. This means that WoodBlocX will last for
20 years and possibly longer, depending upon the ground conditions. |
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|
| Q |
Do I have
to put a protective coating on my WoodBlocX structure once l have
built it? |
|
|
| A |
No.
As explained above, WoodBlocX is pressure treated and surface treatments
are not necessary at all. |
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| Q |
If I Make
a raised bed do I have to line it before I fill it with earth? |
|
|
| A |
No.
The soil particles will soon seal any gaps in the BlocX. Use soil
with good humous content for the upper layers to stop the beds drying
out too much. |
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| Q |
What maintenance
do I need to carry out on my WoodBlocX structure? |
|
|
| A |
None
at all! If after many years you want to freshen it up you could remove
and replace the capping, but the wall will require nothing. |
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|
| Q |
Why don't
you sell WoodBlocX in different colours? |
|
|
| A |
There
would be too many varieties to stock. It is easier to paint it after
it has been built. |
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| Q |
Should I
varnish WoodBlocX? |
|
|
| A |
Don't
varnish WoodBlocX. Water will get under the varnish and turn it black
within a year. Unless you want to treat it like a boat and varnish
it every year!
Do paint WoodBlocX with any exterior wood paint if you want it coloured,
or just leave it natural. The natural green colour will last for several
years before fading to a grey. You can always paint it later when
this occurs. |
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| Q |
What wood
is used to make WoodBlocX and where does it come from? |
|
|
| A |
WoodBlocX
is made from Scottish or Latvian pine. Pine is strong and very durable
when pressure treated, and it tends not to warp so much when it dries. |
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| Q |
I see that
you have the FSC logo on your literature. What does this mean? |
|
|
| A |
The
Forest Stewardship Council lay down rules for the sustainable management
of forests. WoodBlocX comes only from certified forests that are being
managed in an environmentally sustainable way. |
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|
| Q |
If WoodBlocX
structures do not need foundations then why do they not fall over? |
|
|
| A |
Masonry
walls need rigid foundations because they cannot withstand tension
forces. Any ground movement results in cracking and eventual collapse
unless the wall is supported on a concrete raft. WoodBlocX structures
are joined with many dowels to create a rigid structure that can withstand
tension forces (each dowel joint will withstand up to 0.9 tonnes of
shear force in our tests). This means that minor ground movements
will not affect the structure and massive rigid foundations are not
required. However if you wish your structure to retain its shape in
the long term you should not build it on a bog or mud but dig it in
to reasonable stable ground. |
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| Q |
What if I
put a dowel in the wrong way? |
|
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| A |
It
is easy to lose concentration and put a dowel in a hole that has no
corresponding hole in the next row. Don't try to remove it, just cut
it off flush with a saw and carry on without it. |
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|
| Q |
When should
I use groundspikes? |
|
|
| A |
Groundspikes
will help hold the structure down, but more importantly on slopes
they help to prevent the structure from slipping sideways down the
hill. |
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| Q |
Why is there
a plate with the corner capping set? |
|
|
| A |
Because
the capping and the BlocX underneath both have a joint at the corner
there is the possibility of the corner opening slightly to leave a
gap in the corner capping. The plate bridges the corner joint and
helps to prevent this. |
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| Q |
How long
does it take to build a structure using WoodBlocX? |
|
|
| A |
Not
long! The slowest part is digging the ground to get the first row
straight and level. Once this is done it is a simple process to build
up the higher rows. Two people could build a wall 10m long by 5 rows
high in a day. |
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| Q |
Can WoodBlocX
be taken apart? |
|
|
| A |
Yes!
If you want to make a temporary structure assemble the BocX without
the wedges in the dowels. The BlocX can then be levered apart and
dismantled. The dowels can also be removed by punching them out with
a steel punch or pipe and everything can be reused. |
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| Q |
How do I
take apart a permanently assembled WoodBlocX structure? |
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| A |
With
difficulty, but it can be done. Use crowbars or big screwdrivers to
create a gap between the layers of BlocX and then cut through the
dowels with a saw. Once separated the dowels can be removed using
a hammer and punch. |
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| Q |
If I am making
boxes should I put a floor in them? |
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| A |
For
a patio box you need something across the bottom to prevent the box
rising around the soil as time goes by. This can be as simple as a
WoodBlocX brace from one side to the other. Put a piece of plastic
sheet in the bottom of the box and slightly up the walls and the weight
of earth on it will hold the box down. Similarly for raised beds make
sure you have some buttresses or cross pieces to hold the box down. |
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