Timbers

Have you ever cut through a piece of treated timber? Its amazing how thin the protective layer is. It does not penetrate deep into the wood; softwood at that.

An untreated timber fence post… image shown as an example of bad practice.

Most treated timbers are sold with no more than a 5 year manufacturers guarantee. This is not enough for professional landscapers, as all our clients have a 6 year guarantee as standard under the consumer rights act.

So, we have to either take safeguards to further protect timbers against rot, or use a different product; natural, concrete or composite.

Safeguards for timbers include UC4, bituminous paint, deck tape, post-rot protection sleeves, end grain protection, gori paints… the list goes on. Using one or more is vital when using softwood timbers.

We can also use hardwoods, where Oak is the most common. Notable others include Ballau and Cedar. These are either harder, denser timbers which are slower grown or naturally rich in resin; a natural preservative. They can be expected to last 20 years in the same environment as softwood which may last 5 or less. The same additional safeguards will increase this lifespan further.

We have also used tropical hardwood sleepers for raised beds. These are reclaimed from the railways so perhaps a more sustainable alternative; unless the timbers are FSC certified at source. Unfortunately a lot of these sleepers are impregnated with creosote which leaches out in hot weather, so should be avoided in gardens.

So… there are timbers for all tastes, styles and budgets with different ones suited for different end applications. Perhaps a little overwhelming, but trusting a professional judgement can make things easier for you as the homeowner.