Lining pallets just in case??

I have some pallets that I would really like to recycle and turn into a raised bed for my great grandpa (he's 99 and usually gets around using a scooter, so it will definitely be a table top bed). However, I am not really sure if the wood in the pallets is treated or not, and if it was, I am not sure what with.

I had a thought. What if I lined the bed with a tarp or some other form of plastic? Would that prevent any chemicals from seeping into the soil? What do you guys think?

Hi floridagardengirl,

If it hasn't already been said, to the forum. This is a great place to ask the unknown. There are so many knowledgeable people on this site (myself NOT always included ) that you are bound to get the answers you seek. If not directly, there are lots of past threads that may have addressed what you are looking for. Just use the search tool in the upper left corner. It's where I go to look smart!

For some recent opinions using treated wood and plastic liners click here.

For even more recent thoughts on what pallets are made of
click here.

Good luck on building the beds for your great grandpa! BTW, will these be Table Top beds for easier access? If so, search the site for lots of tips on those.

floridagardengirl wrote:I have some pallets that I would really like to recycle and turn into a raised bed for my great grandpa (he's 99 and usually gets around using a scooter, so it will definitely be a table top bed). However, I am not really sure if the wood in the pallets is treated or not, and if it was, I am not sure what with.

I had a thought. What if I lined the bed with a tarp or some other form of plastic? Would that prevent any chemicals from seeping into the soil? What do you guys think?

Pallet wood is generally not a treated wood... however... there can be cross contamination from the products that were transported on them, or rodent/pest killing agents picked up during transport of food or cloth (usually cotton) based products.

Basically, if you wash down the pallets with a good detergent and water it will get rid of most water solluables and oil based nasties.

Repurposed pallet wood can be very labor intensive, but free material. You may want to look for vid's of dismantling techniques online.

You will need to observe the scooter profile to make sure Great Gandpa can reach the center of the bed from a sitting position.

I am so happy that you are willing to enable your loved-one to continue that which is important to him... hope this info helps.

Guess I don't look so smart anymore since you already said they would be table tops! Maybe it's time to hit the hay since I must already be half asleep.....

trukrebew wrote:
Guess I don't look so smart anymore since you already said they would be table tops! Maybe it's time to hit the hay since I must already be half asleep.....

Smart enough to check your work? You are ahead of many!!!

It is going to be a 2x6 table top bed, but it's not going to be as high as normal table tops. Instead it's going to be about coffee table height so that he can reach everything from his scooter. My dad is going to help me work on it. He's pretty handy with saws and screw guns, and he did pretty well on my beds, so I figure I can hire him to do this and pay him with home made carrot cake and pecan pie.

Thanks for the information on cleaning the pallets, as well as the links to the other threads. I know that the pallets were used to transport large quantities of beverages (mostly alcohol and soda), because I got them from a gas station down the street right after they had drink delivery. However, I don't know anything about their lives before the local Pepsi and Budweiser distributing companies, so I will definitely clean them really well. Do you guys recommend any specific detergent?

I am really excited to get working on this project. He used to have a farm up in Marianna, Florida, but he got too old to work on it by himself and sold it to move down here so he could live with his daughter (my grandma). He was growing some veggies down here, but since he had a bout with severe pneumonia last year, his mobility hasn't been that great and he's had to use the scooter. His 100th birthday is next month, so I want to have it done in time to present him with an early birthday present.

kinggarbear wrote:Smart enough to check your work? You are ahead of many!!!

I've been in book publishing for 11 years, so checking my work is a force of habit. That, or I can always feel my boss looking over my shoulder.

floridagardengirl wrote:His 100th birthday is next month, so I want to have it done in time to present him with an early birthday present.

Wow, your great grandpa sounds like quite a guy. Happy Birthday to him! And you are quite a "great" great grand-daughter to be doing this for him. I hope to still be farming in some capacity at 100! Best of luck and please share a picture of him with his new SFG. He may just qualify as the oldest newbie.

I'd use something like Murphy's Oil Soap & "hot as you can" water.

Did you see the thread on Josh's wall of flowers? He used a pallet for that, too... Maybe Grandpa would like part of his garden to be upright like these are...

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t2552-wall-of-flowers

Yeah, I saw it. I am just not sure about his ability to reach everything if I built it that way.

Well, great news. I finally remembered to check the pallets this morning. The six I have are all heat treated. Plus the owner of the gas station wants to know if I want anymore, because they just got another drink delivery and there are several pallets stacked up outside.

Yay!

I am going to go pick up some more either later today or tomorrow. Some I will use to build my great grandpa's tt bed, one I will use to build a strawberry planter, and the rest I will use to build a compost bin.

I have to say how amazing it is that you are able to do this for your great grandfather! In this day and age families drift apart easily; you are a lucky girl and he is definately one lucky guy!

It sounds like you're off to a great start to the table top - and what a great idea to use pallets! Be sure to post some pictures, we'd all love to see it!