Treatment to new gates

Legacy_user

We are having a pair of gates to the drive and a pedestrian gate, and have chosen softwood. To have them treated will cost £130. I am sure that if we chose the most expensive treatment from Wilkinson's, it would be cheaper, so we aim to do it ourselves.

But, having used a variety of products, from Sadolin to Wilko's own brand, I am unsure which to use. I am very much aware that anything free running, can leave a double stain which looks bad but this can be avoided if you apply with an almost dry brush, but even then an overlap mark can show up.

I know there are products which you apply with a cloth and wondered if this is less likely to show overlap/double marks.

Maybe one of you have some knowledge that might help me decide on the coarse of application.

tony6403

I have used danish oil applied with a cloth on patio furniture and it works very well. Shows no marks.
Tin says three but I recommend five applications.
My preferred brand is Colron ,costs about £17 per litre.

System

tony6403 wrote: »

I have used danish oil applied with a cloth on patio furniture and it works very well. Shows no marks.
Tin says three but I recommend five applications.
My preferred brand is Colron ,costs about £17 per litre.

I googled your choice, and it came up with http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/dp/B001GU4DL0?!!!!!invihand-21 via invisble hand, a piece of software that seeks out the cheapest.

tony6403

have a look at screwfix too

STOCKWIRE

The gates should be treated before they are hung. If you are having softwood gates I would have them tanalised as they will be guaranteed for a minimum of 15 years ( we give a 25 anti rot guarantee) . Danish oil is not a suitable treatment for softwood gates unless you want to treat them 4 or 5 times a year. Recommended treatment is something like sikkens cetol or barrettine wood preserver.

System

These flippin gates are causing me such a headache. Due to the cost of the manufacturer's charge in treating the gates, we thought we would do it ourselves and told the manufacturer so.

We visited our only DIY store which is B&Q and their shelves left much to be desired. We half settled on Cuprinol Garden Wood Preserver then looked at Cuprinol Garden Wood Protector, with £5 between the two.

At Wilkinsons, they had just a small range of Sadolin and their own brand fence preserver which is for rough sawn timber.

We have no other outlet and we don't drive. So, would either of the two mentioned be suitable, or should we bite the bullet and let the manufacturer apply whatever it is they use.

The gates are tanalised softwood

littleowl

Why don't you paint them- or are you wedded to the wood look? I use Wickes Garden Colours on exterior wood when I want a coloured finish. The colour choice is fairly limited but there are 'wood' colours as well as green and blue. I've found that the paint lasts for years and remains looking good while preserving the wood.

ormus

i use wickes own brand on my fences and have to apply it every 2-3 yrs or so.
buts its very cheap and the wooden fence is ok.
12 yrs old now.

System

ormus wrote: »

i use wickes own brand on my fences and have to apply it every 2-3 yrs or so.
buts its very cheap and the wooden fence is ok.
12 yrs old now.

this may well be so, but fences are rough sawn whilst the gates will not be, and so many of the treatment state suitable for one or the other,not both.

Vibrant

Give the gates a couple of coats of creosote. It's not too expensive, preserves the wood and can be easily recoated when it starts to fade.
I would avoid fence paint, which offers little protection and is a pain to recoat, when the finish starts to break down.