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Roy22
Junior Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:13 pm Post subject: How do I preserve homemade wooden gravel boards against rot? |
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I need to make some 9ft gravel boards to repair a fence, these having proven impossible to find in my area (Birmingham).
I can think of two options, either get them specially 'cut to order' at my local saw mill, or (don't laugh) 'glue & screw' two shorter treated boards together to get the required length.
Whether I have them cut to order (which exposes at least one untreated side) or else splice two together (exposing a join), I have the same worry: Will the board last a decent time before rotting?
I don't want this repair to rot like the original fence did. So how best do I preserve the new gravel board?
I've used before (and heard good reports of) Cuprinol's Green Wood Preserver. If I leave the board to soak some of that up for a few hours, perhaps in an improvised tarpaulin 'bath', what will be the life expectancy once in use on damp ground? I've seen some treated boards online with amazing 15 year guarantees, and I'd appreciate any opinions on whether this sort of DIY treating of timber is going to be a mistake or not? |
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skiking
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Sep 2006
Posts: 3086
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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Ask your timber merchant for tanalised wood cut to the required lengths and treat with the cuprinol to mention apply more to both ends, especially the freshly cut end.
I'm sure the Wood pro's will come up with the real way  |
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petengade
Member
Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 72
Location: Sussex
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| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Had six scaffold boards and soaked them in the green cuprinol and used them for gravel boards, they lasted for ten years, rotten now will cast next ones in concrete. some timber firms will treat the boards under pressure for you. ask how long they guarantee the tanalised ones for. |
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big-all
Pro Carpenter
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 2775
Location: redhill surrey an auld reekie laddie
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| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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| skiking wrote: |
Ask your timber merchant for tanalised wood cut to the required lengths and treat with the cuprinol to mention apply more to both ends, especially the freshly cut end.
I'm sure the Wood pro's will come up with the real way |
yep spot on
just ask for 9ft gravel boards then pause
if they dont have them they will suggest alternatives
having said that the gravel board is ment to be sacraficial and be replaced as required as they are intouch with the ground
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Roy22
Junior Member
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies. But which matters most, Tanalising or soaking in Cuprinol? Don't know if my local saw mill can tanalise, if they can, is that all you need, or is it daft to skip the cuprinol as a backup?
As an aside, how do you cast your own concrete gravel boards, as only 6ft seem to be available and this would be the most permanent answer?
And if featherboard/arris rail panels are standardly 6ft or 9ft wide (as the books say) why does asking for a 9ft gravel board get the 'you'll never find one of those mate' response? Do people standardly erect the most expensive form of fencing in 9ft panels on damp soil? |
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petengade
Member
Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 72
Location: Sussex
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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| By cast I meant make a 9foot by 6inch wide by 2inch high box and make gravel boards from concrete with three 1/4 inch reinforcing bars in each, will last for ever. |
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Corky
Junior Member
Joined: 25 Mar 2007
Posts: 16
Location: South Wales
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| Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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The whole point of the gravel board is to save the fence from rotting - watch if you use concrete, you will need a small gap above to avoid a water trap which will encourage the fence edges itself to rot. You will end up with another gravel board on top of the concrete one.
If using wood make sure its rough timber and is tanalised, you could also try soaking in old engine oil
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dirtydeeds
Craftsman Carpenter
Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 256
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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as mentioned above
the gravel board is sacrificial |
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