Fence Panels - colour question...

wallofbeans

Hi All,

I'm replacing fences in the garden and although I'm not willing to spend the kind of money that the fancy panels cost, I am happy to pay a bit extra for something I like the look of... The thing I don't want is those orange / brown coloured panels that seems to be the cheapest and most common around.

I'm fencing down the side return at the back of the house and need the lightest colourI can get to help lighten it and make it look bigger. So I googled and found these:

https://www.diy.com/departments/premier-overlap-lap-pressure-treated-fence-panel-w-1-83m-h-1-83m-pack-of-5/5013053153376_BQ.prd

Can anyone explain the difference between these and a standard orange / brown panel? Why are these more expensive and how can I best describe them to the fencing company?

ka7e

The "orange" ones are maybe dip-treated with preservative rather than pressure-treated. Pressure treating usually needs less maintenance and won't need to be treated with preservative for the first few years. I had quite dark pressure-treated panels and a very orange shed put up 18 months ago and they have both faded to the colour you prefer.

Bendy_House

They will all fade lighter, and ultimately go grey.

wallofbeans

I think you’re right, the orange ones are dip treated and natural ones are pressure treated. 

My understanding is that the pressure treated don’t need to be coated with anything in future - does that mean they will stay the same (ish) colour?

And if the dip treated need to be recoated, what colour will that be? I want them to stay as light wood coloured as possible? 

If both will eventually go that silvery grey then I could go with dip treated, although coating them again might change that… 

Thanks all - I’ll have a google to see if I can find an example of what pressure treated will look like a few years down the line. 

Bendy_House

Someone, in an older thread, wanted to protect their fence but not colour it. I recommended a spray with Everbuild Lumberjack triple-action wood preserver (around £85 for 25 litres), focusing on the parts that will catch and hold water - so along the bottom frame, in the corners and behind any strengthening strips, etc, (this is clear, and dries invisible), followed by clear 'decking' oil - there are lots of this sort of stuff on eBay, for example Linseed, Tung, etc., and it nourishes the wood, repels water, but doesn't change the colour beyond making it look as tho' it's a bit 'wet'. You would only do this after a year or so, then the timber has weathered.

They posted a photo of the result - a lush grey hue. Really nice.

You can also get water-repellent liquids, which I presume are silicone based - again, acts to repel water (but don't expect to be able to paint the fence afterwards...) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Raincheck-Universal-Breathable-Colourless-Waterseal/dp/B07QLSWKB4/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=Wood+Sealer&qid=1657741010&sr=8-13

ka7e

This is an example of the same batch of 2 year old, pressure-treated  planks, one exposed to the elements and one covered. 

Bendy_House

This is the other thread I referred to: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6268267/clear-fence-paint/p1

Barrentine has also been highly recommended on here. https://www.toolstation.com/barrettine-wood-protective-treatment-5l/p68513

wallofbeans

Thanks all. This is incredibly helpful.

wallofbeans

ka7e said:

This is an example of the same batch of 2 year old, pressure-treated  planks, one exposed to the elements and one covered. 

I’d love to be able to keep mine like that bottom plank. Can I / how do I do that? 

Bendy_House

wallofbeans said:

ka7e said:

This is an example of the same batch of 2 year old, pressure-treated  planks, one exposed to the elements and one covered. 

I’d love to be able to keep mine like that bottom plank. Can I / how do I do that? 

Hmm, I don't know. I think it would require regular protection, or else it'll 'grey'. 

Is it sunlight or air wot grey's wood?

I think you'd certainly be able to stall it - possibly permanently - with the Barretine wood treatment mentioned earlier - it does say it has UV stabilisers in it.

Woolsery

wallofbeans said:

I’d love to be able to keep mine like that bottom plank. Can I / how do I do that? 

Fight with nature. Meanwhile, others will be doing similarly with that clover 'infestation' and ignoring the fence! Depends on what triggers you I suppose. It was Barleywood Blue and that twerp Titchmarsh that used to get me going, but that's history now. Give it another year and I guarantee you won't care about stuff like natural weathering.