So I wanted to source oak as well but it was not available during my construction period. I ended up using untreated Pine and has worked very well. It's been 5 years and the wood is solid. As long as the wood stays underwater and you don't have it on an unlined pond it will last. Look up bog wood and the science behind it, wood doesn't rot if it isn't exposed to the air and mud where insects can get in it. Cedar would work too just really expensive, oak is what most of the people in Europe use as it is a more common wood there.
Securing wood underwater in natural pool
- Thread starter jneel213
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Hello all - Ben from CT here. I am in the middle of my pond building process and have sourced the wood and I'm currently building the underwater wall segments. One of the big challenges I faced was finding the right wood at a reasonable price. What I ended up doing was buying cedar from a tree service that I have used before on my property, who had a job scheduled where the homeowner wanted cedar trees removed. Then I found a portable sawmill company that brings their sawmill to your property and makes dimensional lumber out of your logs. All in all a super fun solution that saved me ~ $2K in lumber costs. I suspect any hardwood would work - and pine too based on Jrosco34's experience - my guy just happened to have cedar available which I know to be great for outdoor use.
I have heard the best for a swim pond is white oak. I believe white cedar is second. Red cedar will make the water look like tea.
But so long as the wood stays submerged it will take decades to rot
But so long as the wood stays submerged it will take decades to rot
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Fun, creative solution. We have tons of one-man sawmill operators around here, but tough to find one who will work with your wood if it came from anywhere close to civilization as the risk to their blades from nails/spikes/etc. is too great.