Treating timber fence panels
People often ask if they should treat their new fence panels as soon as they have been installed, and the answer depends on the type of timber that has been used for the panels. At Witham Timber, all our fence panels and wooden fence posts are manufactured from timber that has been pressure treated or tanalised.
Do I need to treat my new pressure treated fence panels?
When timber is pressure treated, a preservative is forced deep into the wood using hydraulic pressure inside a chamber. In this way, pressure treated timber fence panels are already protected against decay, rot and insect infestation when they are purchased and require no further initial treatment.
How to treat older timber fence panels
To ensure your timber fence lasts for as long as possible, it will require ongoing maintenance on an annual basis, which can be carried out in these easy steps:
- Clean the fence panels to remove dirt and grime that have built up (see 5 ways to care for wooden fences) and make any necessary repairs.
- Apply Protek Shed and Fence Wood Treatment which contains wax additives for water resistance, and is completely safe for use around animals and children.
- Alternatively, use Protek Wood Stain and Protector, containing a mould inhibitor, which will protect and waterproof the timber fence panels as well as offering UV resistance.
- Once the timber has been treated and stained or painted, it will need to be protected and sealed with wood varnish.
Of course, while all timber fence panels require regular maintenance, prevention is always better than cure. Minimise the risk to your fence of rotting and infestation by using gravel boards and fence post caps and finials.
Gravel boards
While not essential, gravel boards can help to prolong the life of your timber fence by separating it from the ground. Available as timber gravel boards and concrete gravel boards, they serve to fill the gap between the fence and the ground, preventing it from coming into contact with damp, wet soil or garden debris. Timber gravel boards will need regular maintenance just like fence panels but they will be much cheaper to replace in the long term than replacing the entire fence. Concrete gravel boards by comparison require no long term maintenance and are 100% rot resistant. For advice about how to install gravel boards, read What is a gravel board?
Post caps and finials
Fence post caps and decorative finials provide the finishing touch to fence posts and can help to prolong its life by sealing the open end of the post against water penetration which can lead to mould and mildew. They also protect against drying out from other environmental factors such as wind and UV damage, which can cause the timber posts to splinter.
For any help or advice about how to treat and preserve your timber fencing, our experienced sales team will be happy to help via email at sales@withamtimber.co.uk or over the phone on 01205 359188.