pressure treated gates

AliceW

ThisIsWeird said:

The first thing is to prevent the gate from rotting, and that requires timber preservative. Both can be a clear product, so will leave the timber looking just as it does now.

To give it a decorative coating, ideally one that also adds more protection - ie tries to prevent rain getting through in the first place - your choice is essentially a 'stain' or a 'paint'. The former will soak in, offer a colour and protection, but will not give it a solid 'coat' of cover.The main - overwhelming - benefit is that the layer doesn't peel, but slowly erodes, losing colour and effectiveness after a couple of years. It's then very easy to re-coat.

'Paints', however, do provide this protective 'skin'... Once you have bubbles and cracks and peels, it's scrape-scrape-scraps time, which is a major pita.

Photo of your fence and one of your gate?

Thank you. That's really helpful. I think I'll avoid paint and go for a clear wood preservative. I'll get a picture of my gate tomorrow.

AliceW

Fence shown in bottom photo isn't the one painted with Ducksback--that's in another part of garden. This is just a cheap one coat colour and protect.

AliceW

casper_gutman said:

The best paint I know for planed timber is Jotun Demidekk. I used it on a log cabin five years ago. It went on like a dream and still looks as good as the day it was done. Whatever you use, follow the instructions carefully - especially regarding priming, number of coats, and treatment of exposed end grain. E.g., Jotun recommend applying three coats to end grain for every one on the other areas - so, if applying two coats generally you need six to nine (!) on cut ends.

Thank you. It looks good. a fast drying water based matt paint based on AMA (Alkyd Modified Acrylics) technology developed in Norway made in the UK. Long term protection of exterior wood with excellent colour stability and protection for up to 12 years. The combination of high quality binders and weather resistant pigments protects wood against sunlight and provides excellent weatherability.

AliceW

Rdwill said:

https://www.barrettinepro.co.uk/25/274/barrettine-wood-preservative

I always use this stuff, its a bit pricey, but compared with having to do the job twice / or the product not working its well worth the extra money.

 I see they also do a wood protector. I wonder which would be best for garden gates. Protector or preservative?

Rdwill

Hi

I've only ever used the preserver thst I've linked to, the yellow can, I've never used the protector. I've used it on gates, fences, a pergola and a garden arch, all with great satisfaction. 

I must say, I do believe you're over thinking this, have you heard the phrase "Perfect is the enemy of the good".

ThisIsWeird

I'd suggest that a preservative is essential in either case. Either as a pre-treatment, or as a component of the coating you will use.

You wait until you've had a good spell of hot dry weather and the timber is crackling with dryness, then you soak it with a preservative that'll get in to and saturate every little gap and joint. Focus also on the end grain.

Your lovely gates will rot here:

How do I know? Because mine did. And the reason that mine did is because I used a protective decorative coating after a few years, and this then prevented me from being able to 'preserve' the timber. And, of course, the coating will fail along the vulnerable points.

In my experience, on such complex constructions with so many joints, and in a natural product that will swell and shrink with the seasons, you are simply not going to weatherproof it with an outer coating. Water will get in to joints, and the trouble will begin. Between the horizontal mid-bar and the vertical slats is another prize location - no way are you going to waterproof all these mating edges and surfaces. No way.

So, you need to ensure that the water that will ultimately get through does not cause rot, and that's why your timber needs to be thoroughly preserved.

The issue then is what 'finish' to give it? I see that the recommended Barrettine has a 'black' option? I wonder what that would look like? I suspect that the gate will first benefit from at least one year of weathering, before any finish will go on to its best effect.

Alternatively, you let the timber 'grey' with natural weathering, and this can be a lovely finish too.

I have seen some timber preservatives which also have a water-repellent in it, and that strikes me as a good option - it'll soak right in, preserve the timber, and then shrug off rain.

Then there's a finish option of 'oil' rather than 'paint'. After preserving, this will be easy to slap on, should soak in well, repel water, and be easy to re-coat - it won't peel.

But as for actual product names, sorry, don't know :-(

In short, I'd leave these gates until next summer/autumn, preserve them, and then decide on a finish. I wouldn't 'paint' or surface-coat, but 'stain' - stuff that soaks in and enhances the grain.

What made the gates? What do they recommend?

Rdwill

Here are mine inthe Barretine dark brown preserver as linked in my post. They've probably been up for two years now, and i painted them before i hung them.

And before some clever person says they're upside down, i know, i had to re engingeer after i bought them. 😀

AliceW

Rdwill said:

Hi

I've only ever used the preserver thst I've linked to, the yellow can, I've never used the protector. I've used it on gates, fences, a pergola and a garden arch, all with great satisfaction. 

I must say, I do believe you're over thinking this, have you heard the phrase "Perfect is the enemy of the good".

You're right. I do tend to overthink.

AliceW

Rdwill said:

Here are mine inthe Barretine dark brown preserver as linked in my post. They've probably been up for two years now, and i painted them before i hung them.

And before some clever person says they're upside down, i know, i had to re engingeer after i bought them.

Thank you. They look really good. I'll get some Barretine wood preserver.

AliceW

ThisIsWeird said:

What made the gates? What do they recommend?

A local firm. 

I e-mailed to ask what they recommend and they sent me a link to all the timber treatment products they sell on their website --- Tanasheild waterproofing, Protek shed and fence stain, Protek stabe coat, creoseal, cuprinol garden stain, Royal exterior wood finish, Restol satin finish,  shed and fence GOLD wood treatment ---   without any specific recommendation.

Thank you so much for your advice. As the gates are 2 years old, I'll get some preservative with water repellent now, (Barretine wood preservative in clear or light brown) and only use it if we have another spell of hot dry weather -- otherwise wait until next summer.