Garden Gate using untreated timber

[robbo83]

Hi,

I am planning to build a timber garden gate for the side of my house which I want to paint black. I wanted to use pressure treated timber but when I went to buy it yesterday it was really wet in both Selco and Wickes. It would take weeks before it's dry and be ready for painting.

If instead I was to build it with untreated timber which is dry and kept inside at the merchants and then treat it with wood preserver and then paint it do you think it will last as long?

Just to add, none of the timber will in the ground, the posts will be attached to brick walls each side and not touching the ground.

Cheers

 

[Munroast]

if you are painting it then it doesn't need treating with preservatives - the paint will keep it dry

 

[StephenStephen]

If it was mine, I'd cut the pieces, then sit the end grain in preservative for 15 mins or so each end - that's where it's most likely to rot if there's a problem with the paint coat in years to come...

 

[JohnD]

I don't agree that paint is suitable, since it forms an impervious layer that prevent moisture drying out.

It will get in at joints and fixings.

 

[Dunnomate]

Not tempted to do a fancy job using metal?
After my rustic wooden front gate rotted away after 18yrs, I bought a garden arch 3-piece kit(two sides & radiused top). Popped onto ebay, found a metal gate with matching radiused top, knocked four galvanised water pipes into the ground, two at top of the garden path, two at the bottom of the 3 steps. I`m a qualified welder, so stuck it all together that way(avoiding breathing fumes from galvanised pipes)....... but a drill & stainless bolts would do the trick. Painted it all with Hammerite Smooth Black, still looking good after 12yrs. It`s 7ft tall, so I can walk/ carry anything, straight through. I have a 10ft yew one side(they grow much faster than some claim), & the high hedge butts up the other side & holly has grown over the top. Looks the part for an old cottage, but could grow vines, rambling roses etc over it. I`m going to knock up another structure for between the cottage & outbuilding, & it`ll have something grown over it.