When you pick a barrier for a ditch, pond or water side, you soon meet two well known options. Prolock Sigma plastic and hardwood sheet piling in Azobe or Okan. Both systems are proven and last a long time. But they differ in price, fitting, care and look.
In this piece we match both systems in a fair way on the points that matter. Then you can pick the right one for your site.
The match at a glance
- Life: Prolock Sigma lasts 50 to 60 years. Hardwood lasts 25 to 40 years.
- Care: Prolock needs none. Hardwood needs oil now and then.
- Material: Prolock is reused plastic. Hardwood is tropical hardwood such as Azobe or Okan.
- Weight per square metre: Prolock is 8 to 14 kg. Hardwood is 40 to 80 kg.
- Fitting: Prolock you can fit yourself. Hardwood usually needs a crane or a pro.
- Price per metre: Prolock is 73 to 183 euro with posts. Hardwood is 200 to 400 euro with posts.
- Maximum height: Prolock up to 300cm. Hardwood up to 400cm or more.
- Look: Prolock is modern, sleek and grey. Hardwood is natural, warm and brown.
- Strength: Prolock is good as a hybrid system. Hardwood is very high as solid wood.
- Nature: Prolock uses reused material. Hardwood can carry an herkomst mark.
- Corners: Prolock yes, with a corner profile of 10 to 110 degrees. Hardwood yes, but you must saw.
Life and care
Prolock Sigma
Prolock Sigma lasts 50 to 60 years with no form of care. The plastic stands up to:
- Rot and mould.
- Sun light. The colour stays true.
- Being eaten by rodents and insects.
- Effects of soil and water.
You never have to oil, stain or paint the sheeting.
Hardwood sheet piling
Hardwood such as Azobe and Okan has a life of 25 to 40 years. That hangs on the kind of wood and the site. The wood is very strong by itself and sits in class 1, but:
- When water levels rise and fall, the wood can crack.
- Without oil the wood ages to a silver-grey colour.
- Tropical species sometimes hold tannin that browns the water.
- Oil every 2 to 3 years keeps the warm colour.
Winner: Prolock Sigma — longer life, zero care.
Compare the costs
Total costs hang on the wall height. Below is a fair match per running metre, with all needed goods.
Wall 100cm high
- Prolock panels: 69 euro for two pieces of 50 by 100cm. Hardwood boards about 120 to 160 euro.
- Posts per 1,25 m: Prolock 9 euro 50. Hardwood posts 25 to 35 euro.
- Cover: Prolock 29 euro 17 (175 euro per 6m). Hardwood deck rail 30 to 40 euro.
- Total per metre: Prolock about 95 euro. Hardwood about 200 to 250 euro.
Wall 200cm high
- Prolock panels: 138 euro for two pieces of 50 by 200cm. Hardwood boards about 250 to 350 euro.
- Posts per 1,00 m: Prolock 14 euro 25 for a 3m post. Hardwood posts 45 to 60 euro.
- Cover: Prolock 29 euro 17. Hardwood 30 to 40 euro.
- Total per metre: Prolock about 170 euro. Hardwood about 350 to 450 euro.
Note: With hardwood sheeting you often need a crane to drive the heavy boards. Expect 500 to 1000 euro extra per day or more. With Prolock you place the panels by hand.
Winner: Prolock Sigma — 40 to 60 percent cheaper, including fitting.
Fitting and assembly
Prolock Sigma
- Panels weigh 5 to 17 kg. One person can lift them.
- Sliding join: panels slide together from above.
- Wooden posts go in by hand or with a light vibrating hammer.
- Two handy people can fit 15 to 25 metres per day.
- No special tools are needed.
Hardwood sheet piling
- Boards weigh 40 to 200 kg. You need a crane or several people.
- Boards are pressed in with a vibrating hammer or pile driver.
- You often need a mini digger for the ground work.
- Trade fitting is wise for walls over 1 metre.
- Fitting costs more because you hire kit and people.
Winner: Prolock Sigma — friendly to do yourself, no heavy kit needed.
Look and style
This is where your taste matters.
Prolock Sigma
- A sleek, modern look in dark grey.
- A uniform colour that does not grey or shift.
- Fits modern gardens and a sleek house style.
- The cover gives a neat, trade finish.
Hardwood sheet piling
- A warm, natural look in brown when new, silver grey when weathered.
- Each board is unique as the grain differs.
- Fits rural settings and classic gardens.
- It ages slowly. Some owners like that, others do not.
Winner: personal taste. Like sleek and modern? Choose Prolock. Like natural and warm? Choose hardwood.
Strength and load
Prolock Sigma
The hybrid system of plastic panels plus wooden posts suits most private jobs:
- Shore protection up to about 200cm without extra measures.
- For higher loads or greater heights: add purlins and anchoring.
- Not right for very hard cases such as heavy traffic right along the bank.
Hardwood sheet piling
Solid hardwood is stronger in itself:
- Suitable for heavier ground pressure and higher walls.
- Can be used up to 400cm or more.
- Stands up to collision damage, for example on shipping channels.
- First choice on trade and public works jobs.
Winner: hardwood sheeting — stronger under very high loads and great heights.
Green score and nature
Prolock Sigma
- Made from 100 percent reused plastic.
- Can be reused again at the end of its life.
- No chemical treatment is needed.
- Making is in Europe.
Hardwood sheet piling
- Tropical hardwood comes from Africa or South America.
- herkomst papers show the forest is run well.
- Transport distance is large, so the carbon footprint is too.
- Not chemically treated, but logging still has an impact on nature.
Winner: Prolock Sigma — reused material, local making, can be reused.
When do you choose which system?
Choose Prolock Sigma if:
- You want to fit it yourself without a crane or contractor.
- You want a budget-friendly option.
- You want no care, not now and not later.
- The wall does not have to be higher than 200cm.
- You want a modern, sleek look.
- Reuse and a lighter footprint matter to you.
Choose hardwood sheeting if:
- You want a natural, warm look.
- The wall should be higher than 200cm.
- There is a heavy load, such as traffic or mooring boats.
- You will have the wall fitted by a trade crew.
- The site needs a rural or classic look.
Both systems in stock at Houthandel Jan Sok
Still in doubt? At Houthandel Jan Sok in Meppel we have both Prolock Sigma and hardwood sheeting from stock. We advise you honestly on which option fits your site, soil type and budget.
- About 5000 square metres of Prolock in stock.
- Hardwood sheeting 40mm and 50mm herkomst in Azobe and Okan.
- A free strength check and a materials list.
- Free delivery in the Netherlands from 2500 euro.
Call 0522-851551 or email info@houthandeljansok.nl. Site: houthandeljansok.nl.
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