Topic starter
Exciting topic I know... 
We have just bought 2 garden gates made from Swedish Redwood.
The wood is untreated. It is a light colour - looks like pine.
What do we need to treat them with bring out their natural colour so that they look like this:
Do we use an oil, varnish, stain, etc - or a combination of products? We've had slightly different advice from different people - but we know the STW mind would help us reach a decision 
Thanks!
Edit: Not sure if that link is working.
Hopefully this does: Treated gate
Posted : 02/12/2021 2:25 pm
I'd suggest yacht varnish. Made a gigantic pair of gates for a customer many moons ago and thats what we used. Stuff was Russian in origin, got a drum of the stuff exported in as it was more cost effective, but any quality yacht varnish will do.
Is designed for harsh weather where salt,wind rain etc is part of its environment.
Difference between standard varnish and yacht varnish is yacht varnish is standard varnish with Tung oil added. So you could make up your own.
Posted : 02/12/2021 3:02 pm
Difference between standard varnish and yacht varnish is yacht varnish is standard varnish with Tung oil added. So you could make up your own.
In Homebase / B&Q the main difference is the word 'Yacht' printed on the tin and the price going up by a few £. The content is unchanged from their cheapest indoor varnish.
Posted : 02/12/2021 5:30 pm
A mate used yacht varnish on his driveway gates about 5 years ago. He applied it in a rush and it looked pretty shonky. It looks even worse now. It’s weathered fairly well, but also accentuated the messy areas. Had he taken his time it would probably be quite decent.
I’d speak to Wood Finishes Direct. I’ve going them excellent so far for all exterior timbers I’ve worked on at home.
Posted : 02/12/2021 5:56 pm
Something that soaks in? Bird brand is good, a hard shell like varnish is always going to split on a fence or gate but a soak in product can just be re-applied over the top, in dry conditions.
Posted : 02/12/2021 6:46 pm
Ad
.
Something that soaks in?
I only use stains on outdoor wood.
Posted : 02/12/2021 7:21 pm
Use an oil based stain eg Baretine from toolstation, soaks in no problem, brushes on like water, but place sheets under gate ecause it runs down the grooves and onto the slabs and is a pain to remove.
Posted : 02/12/2021 7:50 pm
