Timber and Treatment advice
Softwood Timber
Our softwood gates are manufactured using the highest-grade Scandinavian Redwood we can purchase. If retreated every year with suitable wood preservative, they should last many years.
Softwood timber is cut from fast growing trees and so will have knots in it. It is a different grade to fencing timber though and the knots will not fall out, although over several years they will become dry. You can treat your gates with a Danish or linseed oil which will improve this.
Hardwood Timber
Our hardwood gates are manufactured from a high grade Sapele timber. This timber is a type of mahogany and is particularly suitable for outdoor gates as it is very stable.
A hardwood gate is significantly more expensive than a softwood gate however it could last double the life of a softwood gate.
Hardwood is cut from a slower growing tree and there will be little or no knots in our hardwood gates. Hardwood has naturally occurring oils in it and so does not necessarily require treatment. Although, we do always recommend treating our hardwood gates.
Treating your gates:
The treatment we use is a spirit-based treatment which is very thin, the consistency of white spirit and this will absorb very quickly into the gate. It will run down the gate on application, but will not leave runs as such, so is a quick and easy job. We would recommend 2-3 coats per year. We sell tins of this treatment Here.
To see image comparisons of the treatment colours, more information about treating your gate(s) and images of hardwood and softwood gates please see our Gate FAQ page here
