Creosote or Wood Preservative?

turnitround

I recently had a new fence done which needs coating. I also have an existing fence which has been there quite a few years and also needs doing. The new one is the standard panels you can buy, the other is a natural wood man made fence which is in good condition but I dont think it has ever had any coating on it. 

What is best to coat them with? Someone I know who works as a landscaper says it's far  better to use creosote whilst I was told by someone else to go for a good wood preservative.

I'm not even really sure of the benefits with either, does anyone have any advice which to choose please?

25_Years_On

I don't think you can get creosote any more but there is something called creocote. Personally I always go for an oil based treatment that really soaks in like Ronseal or Cuprinol Fence and Shed Preserver or Barrentine Wood Preserver. The cheaper Barrentine Wood Protector is ok as well and has similar stuff to more expensive treatments.

twopenny

My neighbours use one of the coloured ducks back wood preserver and it is easy to apply and lasts for years.
For colour look around what others have done to see how it looks when it's dried.
The creosote type products, take care if you are growing plants by the fence. Read about the new stuff. I accidentally killed my garden frogs using creosote although I was very careful so be careful around ponds or bird baths.

ispookie666

I used everbuild Lumberjack wood preserver and then Linseed oil/decking oil. Went through 25L of to the wood preserver and around 20L of decking oil. 
This was done last year after we moved in. No idea how old the fence is. 

Woolsery

Good quality pressure treated fences like those made by Jacksons cost more, but don't need treating unless people like the fresh colour look. Many manufacturers cut corners though, so a bit of protection from weathering is often worthwhile on a fence or shed.

Cresote is still available to farmers , but Creocote etc is OK if applied more frequently. Water based treatments  come in more colours, but they aren't as good.

I have untreated chicken sheds well over 10 years old which were creosoted initially and then Creocoted bi-annually. There is no rot at all. With Creocote I can treat and put the birds back more quickly.

henry24

I have a lot of fencing in and around my garden and find creosote lasts much longer than normal fence paint and doesn't go green but if it's where you are looking at it being black and sometimes wet it looks dull compared to normal fence paint