where do i find good bridge lumber?

[noskills]

like the 2 1/2" - 3" thick by 12" used on Friends Trail, Borderland for example. i think the supports are 8x10 block...

[pulsepro]

Go to a saw mill lumber yard (NOT Home Depot or Lowes). That said, is pressure treated lumber not sufficient for what you're building?

[noskills]

thanks, i will try and find one around me. just trying to keep it as simple as possible. want to build a bridge over a bog in my back yard to get to rest of my property and some trails (for walking the dogs). i liked the strength of the lumber used at Borderland. a 12' long section with no middle supports barely sags with me (260+lbs) on it.

[C.P.]

Hey No Skills, the Friends bridges are 2X12 PT lumber (used for both the beam and & the top deck), with 14" X 14" blocks at either end for footings. The 14X14 blocks were cut from pressure treated timbers (they were donated by a big-dig contractor). One of my better bridge designs in B'land.

[noskills]

Hey No Skills, the Friends bridges are 2X12 PT lumber (used for both the beam and & the top deck), with 14" X 14" blocks at either end for footings. The 14X14 blocks were cut from pressure treated timbers (they were donated by a big-dig contractor). One of my better bridge designs in B'land.

Thanks CP. A little surprised to hear they are just 2x12 pressure treated. I measured the thickness the other day and they were well over 2" thick. Would have thought 2x12 would be 1 3/4" thick, at most. Maybe they were bloated I'm going to use cut up stumps for some of the footings, will probably need to find some timber blocks though.

Thanks again for the info.

[SteveC]

I'm going to use cut up stumps for some of the footings

Thanks again for the info.

Use cedar stumps if possible...

[digger]

You can get full 2" rough PT at A&B Lumber Pembroke NH. But easiest for you might be stringer/decking method (ladder bridge) with regular lumber-yard PT if you need the 12' support spacing.

[noskills]

thanks, trying to avoid stringer/decking method due to the length of the bridge, trying to keep simple.

CP, do you know where that 2x12 PT came from? local? National Lumber in Mansfield couldnt help.

[C.P.]

I'm pretty sure I got it from Fernandes lumber yard in Easton. The rough cut PT digger mentioned would be even better, but it is typically not stocked down in our area.

[noskills]

Thanks for the info everyone