Cuprinol 5 Year Ducksback Shed & Fence Treatment – Colour on the Tin vs Actual on the Fence!

sujsuj

I’m currently installing a feather edge/closeboard fence (3m bays) and was in the process of choosing a suitable wood treatment. After carefully comparing the colour options in 5L tins at the shop, I decided to go with Cuprinol Rich Cedar.

However, when I got home and opened the tin, I was surprised to find the colour was a bright orange. After applying and letting it dry on the fence, it remained just as vivid—still very orange—which doesn’t blend in well, especially in a rural setting.

I’ve since looked into other non-black Cuprinol shades, including:

• Rich Cedar – dark orange

• Autumn Gold – looks quite similar to Rich Cedar based on photos online

• Autumn Brown - may be?

• Harvest Brown - may be?

• Forest Oak - too blackish?

If anyone has used any of these, could you recommend which one looks closest to a natural wood colour once applied and dried (not just how it looks in the tin)?

I’m ruling out the following shades:

• Silver Copse

• Black

• Forest Green

I’m aiming for a colour that blends naturally into the landscape—something that resembles real timber, rather than something that stands out unnaturally.

I’d prefer to stick with Cuprinol, as I’ve found that while other brands may be cheaper, they often require multiple coats to achieve a decent finish.

I’ve only opened one tin so far, and the other four are still unopened and ready to be returned. I’m planning a trip back to the shop this Sunday, but after this experience, I no longer trust how the colours appear on the tin or on trade websites.

If anyone has used any of the above shades and can share photos or first-hand experience, I’d be really grateful!

Thanks very much in advance!

koalakoala

We have Autumn Gold, and it is sort of the same colour as our windows, which are Golden Oak
i wouldn’t say it is a natural wood colour on the fence

QrizB

I've used reddish fence stain from various suppliers, although not that particular one.

They have all looked offensively bright when first applied, but fade over a few weeks to something more like the label.

Yours is the colour I'd expect for a fresh coat.

(The last time we stained the fence we did alternate panels of red, green and brown which I thought broke up the effect quite nicely. Might not be what you're looking for, though.)

twopenny

I've got Autumn Gold though not by choice.
My neighbour painted it for me before I moved in.

Dying to change it. It's a softer orange.
On the plus side it's warm and cheerful in winter 😲

I'd like one that looks like old wood and I've seen it painted but can't find it. 

vacheron

We use Ducksback Forest Oak for our fences and shed. Couple of pics for reference. It's nearly always on sale at Wickes for £10 or less per pot.

Shed and rear fence and trellis behind the greenhouse are both a fairly recent re-paint in Forest Oak 

You must have a LOT of panels to need 5 x 5 litre pots. I can usually do the shed and recoat all of our perimeter fencing (about 25-30 meters of 6ft fencing) with way less than than 2 pots! 

Closeup between the shed and greenhouse.

sujsuj

koalakoala said:

We have Autumn Gold, and it is sort of the same colour as our windows, which are Golden Oak
i wouldn’t say it is a natural wood colour on the fence

I initially ruled out Autumn Gold, thinking it might be as bright and orangey (yellowish) as Cuprinol Rich Cedar.

If you get a chance, could you please share a photo of a fence stained with Autumn Gold?
Also, if you remember, just mention when it was last treated—that would help me understand how the colour weathers over time.

From what I’ve seen in some online pictures, Autumn Gold looks quite different compared to what’s shown on the tin.

See someone else Facebook post Autumn Gold fence

sujsuj

QrizB said:

I've used reddish fence stain from various suppliers, although not that particular one.

They have all looked offensively bright when first applied, but fade over a few weeks to something more like the label.

Yours is the colour I'd expect for a fresh coat.

(The last time we stained the fence we did alternate panels of red, green and brown which I thought broke up the effect quite nicely. Might not be what you're looking for, though.)

Yes, this is a fresh coat on a brand new treated fence post.
I thought it would be a good idea to stain it right away as we were installing the new fence.

I just read that it may only need 2–3 hours of drying time, which is helpful since more rain is expected later this week and early next week.

sujsuj

twopenny said:

I've got Autumn Gold though not by choice.
My neighbour painted it for me before I moved in.

Dying to change it. It's a softer orange.
On the plus side it's warm and cheerful in winter 😲

I'd like one that looks like old wood and I've seen it painted but can't find it. 

To my eyes, that looks like a nice, natural colour.
How long ago was it stained? Just trying to get a sense of how long it takes to weather and reach this shade.

I think I could live with this colour—definitely prefer it over Rich Cedar.
Though of course, it might also depend a bit on the photo's lighting and colour saturation.

On a different note I’m a bit surprised you ended up with the ‘back’ or rough side of the fence.
It’s usually an unwritten rule to have the better side facing the neighbour.
There’s also a safety concern—when the arris rails are exposed outward, it makes it easier for someone to climb over.

Thanks very much.

sujsuj

vacheron said:

We use Ducksback Forest Oak for our fences and shed. Couple of pics for reference. It's nearly always on sale at Wickes for £10 or less per pot.

Shed and rear fence and trellis behind the greenhouse are both a fairly recent re-paint in Forest Oak 

You must have a LOT of panels to need 5 x 5 litre pots. I can usually do the shed and recoat all of our perimeter fencing (about 25-30 meters of 6ft fencing) with way less than than 2 pots! 

Closeup between the shed and greenhouse.

Thanks for this!
I had the impression that Forest Oak would be a more earthy colour, and I can see now that’s accurate. Good to know it's a recent coat—that helps me visualise how it will age over time.

I’ve got a 50m stretch of 2m-high closeboard fencing to complete. I’ve only bought enough stain to get started, as about 10% of the fence is already installed. My plan is to stain the installed sections first, then pre-stain the remaining materials while they’re still stacked. That might be easier, especially since I won’t have access to the back once the fence is up—unless I request access from the neighbour.

I’m planning to use a sprayer, (Vonhaus 800W) but standard Cuprinol is so thick it was nearly impossible to use with the machine. I know there’s a version made for sprayers, but it’s quite a bit more expensive. I may try thinning it with around 10% water to see if that helps. If not, I might have to resort to brushing it on—which is definitely more time-consuming.

Von haus 800W

twopenny

The Autumn Gold was painted over 7yrs ago.
It seems to have worn off the cross beams. But trying to repaint the wood had baked so hard that the ducks back wouldn't stick.
New painted is a stronger colour ....... But also on panels it varies with the wood.
In this pic you have some about 5yrs old nearest and you can see one newly painted at the furthest end.

Neighbours fence, cheap and pretty grim both sides.
The ones I got for my side were feathered , treated and I left natural.


I like the Forest Oak colour. My concern is that I'm surrounded by 'in your face ' fence and while would show off the plants nicely in summer would make winter dark.
Bit moot, so many plants, no space to paint 🙂

bjorn_toby_wilde

sujsuj said:

vacheron said:

We use Ducksback Forest Oak for our fences and shed. Couple of pics for reference. It's nearly always on sale at Wickes for £10 or less per pot.

Shed and rear fence and trellis behind the greenhouse are both a fairly recent re-paint in Forest Oak 

You must have a LOT of panels to need 5 x 5 litre pots. I can usually do the shed and recoat all of our perimeter fencing (about 25-30 meters of 6ft fencing) with way less than than 2 pots! 

Closeup between the shed and greenhouse.

Thanks for this!
I had the impression that Forest Oak would be a more earthy colour, and I can see now that’s accurate. Good to know it's a recent coat—that helps me visualise how it will age over time.

I’ve got a 50m stretch of 2m-high closeboard fencing to complete. I’ve only bought enough stain to get started, as about 10% of the fence is already installed. My plan is to stain the installed sections first, then pre-stain the remaining materials while they’re still stacked. That might be easier, especially since I won’t have access to the back once the fence is up—unless I request access from the neighbour.

I’m planning to use a sprayer, (Vonhaus 800W) but standard Cuprinol is so thick it was nearly impossible to use with the machine. I know there’s a version made for sprayers, but it’s quite a bit more expensive. I may try thinning it with around 10% water to see if that helps. If not, I might have to resort to brushing it on—which is definitely more time-consuming.

Von haus 800W

Take great care with the sprayer. We had a real problem when my mother in law’s neighbour sprayed his fence…..and the wall….and mother in law’s garage door and frame 🤣