One of the best ways to protect your fences is with a saturating oil. This is because products that create a ‘protective film’ on top of the wood do not last long and will always eventually flake, chip or peel away leaving the wood exposed to the elements.
However, before we get ahead of ourselves with a finish, the first thing we recommend for new wood is to treat it with Seasonite.
Seasonite
Seasonite is a new wood protector and leaves it to naturally weather for 6-12 months. This is because new wood has something called mill glaze on it which creates a barrier on the surface of the wood that prevents products from being able to saturate into it. Therefore an application as soon as it’s installed would result in a finish peeling and flaking.
An application of Seasonite will protect and stabilise new wood during its first year by controlling the transfer of moisture. It binds with the wood fibres to protect against damage caused by sunlight, rain and pollution to keep the wood looking new for longer.
There are a few options when deciding on what you want to use to protect your fence with:
- Saturating wood oils which protect from within
- Opaque finishes
- Water-based finishes
This post will break down our saturating wood oils.
Saturating wood oils
Saturating wood oils are a perfect way to give your exterior wood surfaces long-term finish and protection. As the name suggests, they work by saturating deep into the wood’s fibres which prevents moisture from entering. As the name suggests, these types of finish protect the wood from within. This means there is no film left on the surface and therefore cannot peel or flake.
We have a few saturating wood oils in our range perfect for use on fences. One of the best things about using a saturating wood oil is that the maintenance is very quick and easy. No stripping or sanding is necessary, simply clean with Net-Trol and apply a new coat.
Protect your fence with Textrol
Textrol saturating wood oil is one of our most popular products and it’s easy to see why. Take a look at some of our customer reviews to see what people are saying about it.
Textrol saturating wood oil has been specifically designed for use on weathered wood, it’s available in 4 shades; Clear, Golden Oak, Rustic Oak and Weathered Grey. It is available in 1L, 2.5L, 5L and 20L tins and you would need around 1L for every 5m² of wood being treated.
Application
Before application of Textrol, we recommend cleaning your fences with a product such as Net-Trol cleaner and brightener. Once the fence is dry and is ready for finishing you can apply the Textrol.
- Using a brush, roller or airless sprayer, apply the first coat of Textrol and allow it to penetrate the wood (15-30 minutes)
- Apply a second application and allow it to penetrate for a further 15-30 minutes
- If required repeat this procedure until the wood is saturated i.e. will accept no more oil
Do not allow Textrol to become touch dry or dry between coats. Once the timber is saturated, brush out or wipe up any excess product that has not penetrated to avoid shiny spots.
Remember that Textrol is not a surface coating, its place is in the wood not on the surface.
Protect your fence with Deks Olje D1
Whereas Textrol has been formulated to be used on weathered wood, Deks Olje D1 can be used on both weathered wood, as well as new wood (subject to correct surface preparation).
Deks Olje D1 is also a highly saturating wood oil that leaves a clear matt finish and requires no sanding. It offers outstanding protection from damage caused by moisture, sunlight and pollution and can be used both on interior and exterior wood.
Deks Olje is available in 1L and 2.5L tins and you would need around 1L for every 1-4m² of wood being treated.
Preparation
Before application of Deks Olje D1 you will need to prepare your fences.
If the fences are new, you will need to remove the mill glaze present on the surface that occurs during the milling process. You can use Aquanett wood oil remover followed by Net-Trol wood cleaner and neutraliser to remove the mill glaze and neutralise the wood. Then leave it to dry for at least 24 hours.
If your fences are weathered and have no finishes previously applied, you can instead simply use a wood cleaner such as Net-Trol which will remove any surface and ground-in dirt and restore the wood back to its natural colour before applying Deks Olje D1.
You will want to make sure your wood is as clean as possible and free from any other contaminants before application of Deks Olje D1 as they will block the finish from being able to saturate into the wood.
Application
Once your wood is clean and dry you are ready for D1:
- Using a brush or roller, apply the first coat of Deks Olje D1 in sections you can complete in around 15 mins
- Once the first application has saturated (15-30 minutes), apply a second application.
- If required, repeat this procedure until the wood is saturated i.e. it will accept no more oil
Do not allow Deks Olje D1 to become touch dry or dry between coats. Once the timber is saturated, brush out or wipe up any excess product that has not penetrated to avoid shiny spots.
Remember that Deks Olje D1 is not a surface coating, its place is in the wood not on the surface.
We hope you found this post on how to protect your fences with a Saturating wool oil helpful. Please feel free to leave any tips, tricks or advice you have in the comment section below.
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About Owatrol Team
Our team are ready and willing to support you with your requirements whether it is protecting your newly laid deck or renovating a luxury yacht, whatever the application Owatrol has the solution you are looking for.
