I've been mulling over outdoor enclosures, looking to see what I could build for my (still prospective, as I'm aiming to have everything I need completely built first) tortoise.
Right now on my deck, I have two large wheeled planters my grandfather built for us that look suspiciously like tortoise tables... just filled to the brim with soil and plantings. They're great, easily moved around to get the best sun or to get out of inclement weather. I was thinking he-- or even I, because I'm handy-- could very easily make a very similar one with a screened hinged lid (way too many nosy wild creatures not to have a lid) for an outdoor enclosure. But over a good 5 years of having these planters, I've repeatedly had to replace parts of the wood because they've gotten weathered. So, my question, has anyone heard of using composite wood decking or composite wood materials in building an enclosure? Is that even acceptable? I love how these materials don't warp, rot, or need to be sealed... but I'm wondering how healthy it might be.
(Thanks!)
Right now on my deck, I have two large wheeled planters my grandfather built for us that look suspiciously like tortoise tables... just filled to the brim with soil and plantings. They're great, easily moved around to get the best sun or to get out of inclement weather. I was thinking he-- or even I, because I'm handy-- could very easily make a very similar one with a screened hinged lid (way too many nosy wild creatures not to have a lid) for an outdoor enclosure. But over a good 5 years of having these planters, I've repeatedly had to replace parts of the wood because they've gotten weathered. So, my question, has anyone heard of using composite wood decking or composite wood materials in building an enclosure? Is that even acceptable? I love how these materials don't warp, rot, or need to be sealed... but I'm wondering how healthy it might be.
(Thanks!)