bright orange fencing...

lostinrates

I might be getting a new garden, :j:j (with a house). There is very little there, it will be practically start from scratch. There are two lilacs, and a hedge....and lots of horrid conifers.

But there is also an area of new, very orange wooden fencing. The fence has been well built and offers a screen against the noise/mechanics of a farm yard, but its very orange and money is going to be very tight. Is the best way to deal with it to accept putting my hand in my pockat for some wood stain/preservative to tome the colour down...or, as it has already been ''preserved'' would I be ale to paint it with yogurt or something?

Eventually the plan will be to get something climbing up and over it...

Lotus-eater

Ahh, the "housing new look" orange fencing, horrible isn't it. Yet some people try their very best to get their fence to look like this, as it looks "new".

It will probably have been treated with a stain, which tbh is about as good for protecting wood as a fish is able to use a bicycle. Paint it with creosote replacement and just leave it, it will fade.

lostinrates

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Ahh, the "housing new look" orange fencing, horrible isn't it. Yet some people try their very best to get their fence to look like this, as it looks "new".

It will probably have been treated with a stain, which tbh is about as good for protecting wood as a fish is able to use a bicycle. Paint it with creosote replacement and just leave it, it will fade.

Thanks lotus eater. I thought it would involve spending money But at least I know now. If I'm really lucky I might have some grey/blue stuff left over from here from last year, but I don't think I do, so a creosote replacement it will have to be.


Yes, it is ghastly! I don't want to just climb something straight over it as I know I'll still see the orange and grit my teeth.

I'm going to be needing a lot of greenfingered help: things like nursery beds etc. A few older friends are already offering my plants from gardens they are leaving, but with so much to do planning the eventual layout of garden is a bit much atm. I'm hoping to dig one bed out only as big as it needs to me, to not divert attention too much from the important structural stuff that will need doing if we get it.

Yes it is horrid. Ghastly.

Davesnave

If it has been tanalised you would probably be best to leave it to weather into its surroundings, in which case, a bit of cow poo mixed in milk would probably encourage the process. If the result is horrendous, it would at least fail to make a totally permanent blot on the pristine boards.:)

The problem with painting fences a more neutral colour is that the paint itself, if water-based, may not last long and might fail to stick well on newly preserved timber.

The best toning-down preserver I've found is the woodland green in the Wickes solvent-based High Performance range. Environmentally friendly and cheap it's not, at around £20 a can, but then I have never gone in for macrame with muesli or constructing patio furniture with old pallets etc etc.;)

Lotus-eater

Congrats on your new house btw

SallyForth_2

I dunno, I admit it wouldn't be my first choice of stain either, but it would make a good backdrop colour to some plants, particularly those which have lots of dark green leaves and anything with blue flowers.

lostinrates

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Congrats on your new house btw

Its not mine yet..:o...just planning in case..:o

lostinrates

SallyForth wrote: »

I dunno, I admit it wouldn't be my first choice of stain either, but it would make a good backdrop colour to some plants, particularly those which have lots of dark green leaves and anything with blue flowers.

This is in a very visable spot: from inside it would be my main downstairs view ...when dh takes my shoes and leaves me barefoot in the kitchen :rotfl:. I haven't even begun to think about planting schemes yet. I've a fondness for cottage gardens and mixed soft colours...I the the orange would certainly overpower.

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

This is in a very visable spot: from inside it would be my main downstairs view ...when dh takes my shoes and leaves me barefoot in the kitchen :rotfl:. I haven't even begun to think about planting schemes yet. I've a fondness for cottage gardens and mixed soft colours...I the the orange would certainly overpower.

Thinking about it, if its orange, it may not have been tanalised, just dipped or sprayed. Usually, in that sort of situation, the vendor employs a contractor to put up closeboard rather than fence panels. Quality can be a bit of a lottery.

Is it board or panel, and whose fence is it anyway? I know it is only a farmyard on t'other side, but the fact that treatments can bleed through may restrict your options anyway, especially if it's 'theirs.'

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

Thinking about it, if its orange, it may not have been tanalised, just dipped or sprayed. Usually, in that sort of situation, the vendor employs a contractor to put up closeboard rather than fence panels. Quality can be a bit of a lottery.

Is it board or panel, and whose fence is it anyway? I know it is only a farmyard on t'other side, but the fact that treatments can bleed through may restrict your options anyway, especially if it's 'theirs.'

Not sure of the difference between board and paneled. I would guess this is ''board'': it looks built in situ, like cheapish thin wood fixed to a more durable ''structure'' of posts/rail. I have the structure side. Only place on the details where ownership of boundary is not marked, lol.


edit:

as a followup, looks like I am going to need somehting to paint this fence as it is indeed going to be mine!
So, what do you think Davesnave, the treatment you or LJ originally recommended or something else.


I'm suddenly a little daunted at the size of my new garden...I guess the thing is not to rush it and be content to just cut grass till I ''see'' where I want borders etc. Its going to be hard though!