Scaffold wood is reclaimed timber from construction scaffolding that gets a second life as DIY material for furniture, wall cladding, and exterior cladding. The characteristic weathered appearance — grey, rough, with marks from use — makes it popular for an industrial or rustic style. “New scaffold wood” is unused timber with the same dimensions but without weathering.
Types
Old (used) scaffold wood
- Salvaged from decommissioned scaffolding
- Weathered, grey, with nail holes and stains
- Every plank is unique
- Caution: may be contaminated with cement, paint, or chemicals
New scaffold wood
- Freshly sawn spruce in scaffold wood dimensions
- Rough (unplaned), light yellow colour
- Can be artificially “greyed” with grey wash or stain
- Cheaper and cleaner than old scaffold wood
Standard dimensions
| Dimension (mm) | Application |
|---|---|
| 32 x 200 | Table tops, benches, wall cladding |
| 38 x 200 | Heavier furniture, fences |
| 50 x 200 | Sturdy constructions, outdoor furniture |
| 63 x 200 | Structural timber, beams |
Applications
- Furniture — Dining tables, coffee tables, benches, bed frames
- Wall cladding — Accent wall indoors
- Fences — Robust, rustic appearance
- Garden furniture — Lounge seats, planters
- Shop decor — Shelves, displays, counters
Working with scaffold wood
Sanding
- Always lightly sand old scaffold wood to remove splinters
- Don’t sand too much — you lose the weathered character
- Use 80-120 grit
Treatment (indoors)
- Wax — Protects and preserves the rough look
- Matt lacquer — Protects without gloss
- Oil (hardwax oil) — Penetrates the wood, natural protection
Treatment (outdoors)
- Scaffold wood is untreated spruce and rots quickly outdoors
- Outdoors always stain or oil with an exterior product
- Or accept that it will further grey and need replacing after 5-10 years
Disadvantages
- Not durable outdoors — Untreated spruce, rots quickly
- Splinters — Rough wood causes splinters. Sanding helps, but makes it less rough.
- Unpredictable quality — Old scaffold wood can be warped, cracked, or contaminated
- Heavy — Due to the large dimensions, scaffold wood furniture is quite heavy
Related terms
- Spruce wood
- Softwood
- Douglas fir