Which Clear Wood Preservative?

februarysgirl

I'm having an arbour built as we speak and although it's being made with pressure treated timber, I'd like to give it some extra protection. Custom made doesn't come cheap so I'd like to do what I can to make sure it lasts for years especially with regards to avoiding cracking. The thing is that I'd like it to fade naturally to a silvery grey to match all of the other wooden elements in the garden (fence, shed, raised beds) so I don't really want to use something that will keep the colour of new wood. I was looking at Roxil wood protection liquid and although it doesn't specify that it provides UV protection, it does claim that it reduces the rate of discolouration which is exactly what I don't want.

Any recommendations?

Obelixx

Oil?  I use teak oil to protect outdoor wood but have also used my indoor mixture which is a Litre of light olive oil (not extra virgin) mixed with th juice of half a lemon and given a good shake.

If you feed the wood with either of those as soon as it's built and before planting up it should absorb a good bit and then fade gracefully over the coming years.

Perki

I don't believe its possible to let it go natural while treating it , its kind of doing the opposite of what the treatment is supposed to do. 

Teak  / danish / tung oil will change the colour of the wood 

 

steveTu

@februarysgirl

I used Roxil creme over the top of a water based stain on a pair of tables - and that wasn't successful (as the colour bled), but that was my fault as I never checked with Safeguard (who provided the Roxil) as to what the best use for it was. The  Roxil has been on this summer only (and we've had very little rain down here so far), so it's hard to tell how good it will be in protecting the wood and keeping the appearance. It's supposed to protect for 10 years.

lizzie02

februarysgirl said:

I'm having an arbour built as we speak and although it's being made with pressure treated timber, I'd like to give it some extra protection. Custom made doesn't come cheap so I'd like to do what I can to make sure it lasts for years especially with regards to avoiding cracking. The thing is that I'd like it to fade naturally to a silvery grey to match all of the other wooden elements in the garden (fence, shed, raised beds) so I don't really want to use something that will keep the colour of new wood. I was looking at Roxil wood protection liquid and although it doesn't specify that it provides UV protection, it does claim that it reduces the rate of discolouration which is exactly what I don't want.

Any recommendations?

https://www.achemshop.co.uk/product/timbashield_clear/


We haven't as yet used the clear but for many years we have used the the dark oak on all of our fencing. Good stuff.

KT53

I wanted my shed to develop that natural silver colour so left it alone for several years as I had been advised by the makers that it would be fine.  I have just purchased Sadolin Extra Durable Clear Coat which I plan to treat it with now as I'm happy with the colour.  It isn't cheap at £45 for 2.5 litres , but neither was the shed.

februarysgirl

@Obelixx Most of the oils I've seen still have UV protection unfortunately. I shan't be planting it up as it's a seated arbour, might put some plants in pots beside it but then again, I don't want algae all over it.

@Perki That's my fear, that I'm asking for the impossible.

@lizzie02 That one's got UV protection in it which is definitely what I don't want.

@KT53 I would leave it but my concern is the wood splitting. I have raised beds and unfortunately the capping spilt quite badly the first year. It doesn't seem to have impacted them any other way than aesthetically but I'd rather that didn't happen to the arbour. I'm concerned that without any protection I'll end up with big ol' splits in it and this cost A LOT to build.