Have we made a mistake ?

[Deleted User]

We have 7 new 6x5 foot fence panels to treat and bought a large tub of Cuprinol Ducksback - that is supposed to treat 17 panels

However, the thirst of the wood means that after brushing on 3 panels - the treatment is half gone !

What are we doing wrong ??

Murmansk

It's hard to predict how coverage will go.

Might be a good idea to put the subject of your query in the title eg "Fence treatment doesn't go as far as it should"

d0nkeyk0ng

Not the same but I used Cuprinol Garden Shades. The first coat is quickly absorbed into the dry wood so you will go through it faster. I bought double what I needed and used it all. Rough sawn wood will always absorb more than planed wood. 

I’ve had a look online and it says 9 litres will cover 54m sq but for one coat, and that you should apply 2-3 coats. I think spraying will use less than brushing. 

[Deleted User]

d0nkeyk0ng said:

Not the same but I used Cuprinol Garden Shades. The first coat is quickly absorbed into the dry wood so you will go through it faster. I bought double what I needed and used it all. Rough sawn wood will always absorb more than planed wood. 

I’ve had a look online and it says 9 litres will cover 54m sq but for one coat, and that you should apply 2-3 coats. I think spraying will use less than brushing. 

They do say not to spray Ducksback !

Hence brush

The timber on the panels is pretty smooth - whilst not planed - it comes close - its not at all rough sawn

rob7475

You'll find the second coat uses much less. You'll probably need more than one tub to to both sides of 7 panels with two coats though.

We use the ducksback paint and it's very good - we tend to recoat around every 5 years.

Farside71

rob7475 said:

You'll find the second coat uses much less. You'll probably need more than one tub to to both sides of 7 panels with two coats though.

We use the ducksback paint and it's very good - we tend to recoat around every 5 years.

Probably one of the better options out there as a step up from the cheap watery rubbish that is pushed hard by DIY chains.  I find it maintains it's water repellent features for a long time, on wood sheltered from sun and wind and rain.   Exposed bits are a bit hit and miss.

First coat will be eaten up by the wood to be honest, and I would ignore their figures.  Second coat will cover a lot more and be a lot quicker to apply.  You really need two coats of this stuff.

Alanp

We’ve just renewed six panels that border our neighbours garden, we decided not to use cedar red this time but use silver coppice, a grey colour, of course it meant changing all the other panels from red to grey, the new unpainted panels ( rough sawn) took 2 coats, but the painted ones took 3! , all 25 of them, both sides, once started it was too late to stop, I also thought i could spray it on , but it’s not sprayable ( I think it’s the wax in ducksback) so it had to go on with a brush, I now have arms like popeye…😁

Ganga

Alanp said:

We’ve just renewed six panels that border our neighbours garden, we decided not to use cedar red this time but use silver coppice, a grey colour, of course it meant changing all the other panels from red to grey, the new unpainted panels ( rough sawn) took 2 coats, but the painted ones took 3! , all 25 of them, both sides, once started it was too late to stop, I also thought i could spray it on , but it’s not sprayable ( I think it’s the wax in ducksback) so it had to go on with a brush, I now have arms like popeye…😁

It sounds like a " Forth road bridge " job ,by the time you have done the last panel the first ones will need doing again 

goldfinches

Alanp said:

We’ve just renewed six panels that border our neighbours garden, we decided not to use cedar red this time but use silver coppice, a grey colour, of course it meant changing all the other panels from red to grey, the new unpainted panels ( rough sawn) took 2 coats, but the painted ones took 3! , all 25 of them, both sides, once started it was too late to stop, I also thought i could spray it on , but it’s not sprayable ( I think it’s the wax in ducksback) so it had to go on with a brush, I now have arms like popeye…😁

Just think of how much easier those muscles will make all your other tasks for the rest of this year! 

I've always rather envied his muscles as I'm particularly feeble with regard to upper body strength; it's no joke when you need a hand to lift your rolling pin! 

ic

Always buy fence panels pre-treated.  They'll be dipped at the factory so will have long-life treatment you'll struggle to replicate, and when painting in later years, you're only having to top up what was done at the factory.  Untreated panels will drink up treatment otherwise.

Ducksback is great though, and itself doesn't need recoating every year if done right.

Forwandert

Ducksback works best on non pretreated as it can work deeper into the wood, this will use more treatment but should make it last a lot longer. If it's pretreated there's more chance that it'll apply onto the previous treatment and may peel a little over the years as it's not got deep enough so works more like a surface paint. It's good news it's taking so much on the first coat as it's soaking deeper. 

It's also sprayable with a semi decent sprayer. I've never had to apply with a brush. I do have one that's good for everything upto masonry paint though.