Someone gave me 2 and a half sheets of Kingspan insulation the other week @Woodgreen and I used them to line 2 of my bins and there was enough left to make lids. However, being foam stuff and covered both sides with shiny stuff and not nice to look at I covered them with some black woven ground cover that I had spare. Not everyone has that sort of thing kicking about but builders throw all sorts of things away, right place at the right time.
Thanks @Uff, it's something to think about. I'd like something flat, that would last, and that I could fix to a timber frame, but as I said, it needs to be heavy enough to stay put in windy weather. I'd thought about corrugated metal but the edges would be a hazard, sharp. Might be too heavy as well.
I suppose if the covering was very lightweight I could make the frame in such a way that there was enough timber to give it the weight needed? A friend suggested thin metal sheet.
Look up something called 'Onduline', you can buy it in B&Q. If the existing lids are in good enough condition and light enough when dry then you could clad them in it. If not then make new lids with a top rail, a bottom rail and a mid rail with the Onduline fixed to them.
@Woodgreen twin wall polycarbonate sheet maybe? I used it for a cold frame, fixed to a simple wooden frame with clout nails. You could always fix a plastic membrane or coat of paint internally if necessary
Thanks @owd potter, I'll have a look at that too. The lids are all different widths, so I'll need to measure and try to find something suitable for making up. We once used thick plywood but they were heavy too, and the biggest lid awkward to lift off. I usually prop them up with two of the front slats when filling them, but sometimes it's best to take them off, when emptying them. Thanks.
So I had some good luck yesterday 3 wheelie bins of fresh cut grass at the house I'm working at, yes it's a monster garden. Well you can't miss such opportunities and it's loads easier than raking up leaves. Nearly killed me dragging it the 100mt to my compost bins but it'll be worth it. I'm expecting the heat to rise soon
Serious grass there @Wilderbeast. Well done, getting it to the bin. I'll be lucky to get a wheelbarrow full now I think. I'm going to try this afternoon as it's not rained for a few hours (best I can hope for at the moment) and it's quite breezy.
Well the grass has done it job and the temperature is up to 65°, went out today and raked up enough leaves to fill a ton bag so they'll get mixed into the new grass
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I suppose if the covering was very lightweight I could make the frame in such a way that there was enough timber to give it the weight needed? A friend suggested thin metal sheet.
If the existing lids are in good enough condition and light enough when dry then you could clad them in it. If not then make new lids with a top rail, a bottom rail and a mid rail with the Onduline fixed to them.
I'll check it out, thanks.
twin wall polycarbonate sheet maybe?
I used it for a cold frame, fixed to a simple wooden frame with clout nails.
You could always fix a plastic membrane or coat of paint internally if necessary
The lids are all different widths, so I'll need to measure and try to find something suitable for making up.
We once used thick plywood but they were heavy too, and the biggest lid awkward to lift off. I usually prop them up with two of the front
slats when filling them, but sometimes it's best to take them off, when emptying them.
Thanks.
Well you can't miss such opportunities and it's loads easier than raking up leaves. Nearly killed me dragging it the 100mt to my compost bins but it'll be worth it. I'm expecting the heat to rise soon