At wooden Gate Timber Products Ltd, we supply all our gates completely bare as a standard so that customers can choose how they would like to finish the gates.

We have 3 approved options of finish..

1. Clear Oil (tung nut oil)
2. Quality exterior Gloss Paint*
3.  Water/solvent based stain** with tung oil finish (option 1)

For methods of all method please click the option above…

* PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM MICRO POROUS FINISHES. We at Wooden gate Timber Products Ltd prefer the stain and oil method to painting and we can normally supply RAL Colour paint alternative (please see RAL chart below)

**  The stain referred to above is the stain that we supply, other forms of stain are sometime not acceptable and therefore Wooden Gate Timber Products Ltd will not be held responsible for the duration of lamination or timbers i.e. any/all warranties will be void. If unsure on products that can be used please email the product info to [email protected]

Here at Wooden Gate Timber Products Ltd we prefer the staining and oiling method to painting mainly as surface coats such as paint can crack easily and allow moisture to enter the timber causing premature fatigue. We can supply most colour on the RAL chart in stain form, why not challenge us!

With this said, we understand people prefer to paint so we have put a little guide below to aid with this process..

Firstly, in preparation to applying the paints you will need to beware of a few points.

• Make sure your applying in a well ventilated area
• Make sure you use dust sheets* to protect you working area from spills/slashes
• Use relevant personal protection equipment (PPE) such as overalls, nitril gloves, eye protection and respiration mask
• Can be applied with brush
• Make sure surfaces are clean and free from dust etc
• STAY AWARE FROM MICRO POROUS FINISHES!!!

* Any material that is soaked in tung oil and or solvents must be laid flat to dry to prevent combustion!

Once ready to start, depending on the timber species you may need to use a knotting solution of any knots as these may appear through the timber at a later time.

Then when you are happy that you have covered any/all knots in the timber you will need to apply an undercoat/primer. You can get undercoat and primer in one tin these days which saves time and we have found to be very effective. We recommend around 3-4 coats, again depending on the timber type etc. The more undercoats you have, the protection the timber will have and the better your top coats will adhere, giving a better, longer lasting finish. you will need at least 24 hr between coats (check back of tin for details).

Note: Make sure to choose a undercoat colour similar to your final top coat!!

Once happy with the undercoats, you can start to apply your top coats. We again recommend around 3-4 top coats, having this many coats on will increase protection and look top quality!

We understand that not everyone has the facilities to stain, oil or paint your gates so we can provide the staining and initial 2 coats of oil. We can also paint you gates should you wish, please ask for more info.

*Please Note if we stain, oil or paint your gates etc this may add a considerable amount of time onto the order.

At Wooden gate Timber Products Ltd we strive to supply the best shades of stain. All our stains are supplied in water based form for ease of use and safe as possible (except Ebony, White Pigment, Grey and any other stain made from the RAL chart). Here is a brief instruction of how we recommend to apply..If staining and oiling, the best way to apply is to stain first so that you are happy with the shade then following the Oiling advise..

Firstly, in preparation to applying the stains you will need to beware of a few points.

• Make sure your applying in a well ventilated area
• Make sure you use dust sheets* to protect you working area from spills/slashes
• Use relevant personal protection equipment (PPE) such as overalls, nitril gloves, eye protection and respiration mask
• Can be applied with brush or lint free cloth*
• Make sure surfaces are clean and free from dust etc

* Any material that is soaked in tung oil and or solvents must be laid flat to dry to prevent combustion!

Next we strongly advise you shake container(s) and test the shade of stain on an inconspicuous area or on sample of timber before applying to entire gate. The oiling method should not change the shade of stain by much as long as given enough time to dry.

Once you are happy to apply, it is sometimes advisable to rub gates over with a moist cloth to take any dust etc off surface, this will also help the stain absorb evenly.

To apply, use long even strokes on brush/cloth in desired areas, we recommend 2 coats normally (ebony, white, grey etc can sometime take up to 4-5 coats for depth of colour) allowing at least 24 hours between coats for drying, this can depend on temperature/humidity.

Once you staining is complete its time to apply your protection oil!

We understand that not everyone has the facilities to stain, oil or paint your gates so we can provide the staining and initial 2 coats of oil. We can also paint you gates should you wish, please ask for more info.

*Please Note if we stain, oil or paint your gates etc this may add a considerable amount of time onto the order.

 

 

Using Tung nut Oil to protect you gates(exterior wood) has many benefits. Mainly it is easy to apply and its great at repelling water and other elements. This is a brief instruction of how to get the best out of the oil.

Firstly, in preparation to applying the Tung Nut Oil you will need to beware of a few points.

• Make sure your applying in a well ventilated area
• Make sure you use dust sheets* to protect you working area from spills/slashes
• Use relevant personal protection equipment (PPE) such as overalls, nitril gloves, eye protection and respiration mask
• Can be applied with brush or lint free cloth*
• Make sure surfaces are clean and free from dust etc

* Any material that is soaked in tung oil and or solvents must be laid flat to dry to prevent combustion!

Application –

For new wood the first two coats of Tung Oil should be thinned up to 50% with white spirit, as this aids absorption, and should be applied liberally and evenly. When using a cloth, use a circular or figure of eight pattern to work into the wood, and apply until the wood stops absorbing. Allow to penetrate for 20-30 minutes before wiping off any excess with a lint-free cloth in the direction of the grain. The third and subsequent coats should be applied unthinned. For both interior and exterior wood 3-5 coats are recommended. The more oil that is applied in the year the better the protection and therefore the longer your gates will last.

Tung oil naturally has a matt to low-sheen finish, which can be buffed slightly with a very fine grade (000) wire wool. Care should be taken when using wire wool on oak, as any fibers left behind can react with the wood causing staining.

We understand that not everyone has the facilities to stain, oil or paint your gates so we can provide the staining and initial 2 coats of oil. We can also paint you gates should you wish, please ask for more info.

*Please Note if we stain, oil or paint your gates etc this may add a considerable amount of time onto the order.

Maintenance –

We recommend applying at least 1 coat each year, if extreme weather is experienced such as heat waves etc we advise applying more coats as needed.

If the finished experiences knocks/chips/discolouring etc this can be easily rectified by rubbing or sanding down effected area and re applying the tung oil to match original finish.

Drying Time –

When applying the first ‘thinned’ coats these will take around 24 hours to dry, however thick coats could take up to 3-4 days! (depending on weather conditions)

 

Wooden gates like all timber requires some protection against the elements if it is to preform its function effectively and provide the years of service which we all expect.

 

Surface coatings, such as paint act to lie on the timber surface and prevent the ingress of moisture into the timber, which is the cause of rot and decay in timber.

 

These surface coatings are only effective as long as they seal the wooden gates effectively and also maintain their ability to stretch and contract with the timber. Failure to do any of these will result in water getting behind the finish and decay will then set in. Gloss paints are very susceptible to cracking and chipping which can let moisture in!

 

The use of oil on the timber solves these problems and has significant advantages over surface coatings:-

 

1. Oil penetrates the timber and becomes part of the structure and therefore moves as the timber moves.
2. Moisture cannot enter the timber as the oil will set inside the Timber and will repel the water trying to enter the structure
3. Quick and easy to apply.

Therefore where wooden gates are concerned where they are in continual movement due to the changing weather, this solves the problem of protection.

 

The oils available today are varied but the most common ones are :-

 

1. Tung nut oil
2. Danish oil
3. Teak oil

The best oil we have found is the Tung nut oil for wooden gates. Which we supply and strongly recommend.

 

This is a water proofing oil and has been used for many thousands of years. It is believed to have originated in ancient China around 400bc!

 

It is easy to apply and will sink into the timber and repel water that will fall onto the wooden gates keeping out the moisture and extending their life. Adding a solvent such as white spirit will make the oil even easier to apply and will penetrate the timber even further and therefore even better protection.

 

To apply the oil, just be generous with a brush , let the oil sink in and keep applications going on until the timber cannot take any more over the first few months after you have hung your wooden gates.

 

On subsequent years all you have to do is keep topping the oil up in the timber probably in the spring and autumn as we go into the winter, but remember that if we have a very hot summer then another application would be well worth applying. Occasionally the oil can leave a fatty residue (white crystal build up) which can detract from the look. It is best to rub down the affected area and reapply the oil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because it is in their very nature to do so is not quite the answer were all searching for, but in essence that is the answer.

Wooden gates like the name implies are made from wood and as such have characteristics which determine what they will do and in what circumstances.

 

So what I will discuss here is not just what causes the timber to bend and twist but what measures we can take to minimise this effect happening in the first place.

 

Some basic truths

 

1. When it is wet wood will absorb moisture
2. When it is dry timber will dry out.
3. All wood moves
4. Straping it to a metal frame will not stop any of the above
5. Tanalising or any anti fungal treatmets will not stop it either.
6. Hardwood’s bend and twist just the same as softwoods sometimes more

 

So what causes your timber gates to look in opposite directions!

 

There are several causes why your wooden gates move excesively and the most common one is the timber drying out.

 

Timber is composed of long fibres which would look essentially like a box of straws. This composition of fibres is designed to support the tree and allow the movement of water to the top of the tree.

I suppose you could imagine it being a large sponge full of water.

 

When the tree is first cut the timber is called green, you may have heard the term “green Oak”, this does not relate to the colour but the fact that no drying of the timber has taken place.

The timber at this point is very heavy and very wet as it is full of water.

 

To use this timber effectively it needs to dry out, this used to be air dried, where the timber is cut into large planks and the air allowed to circulate which removes the moisture. However the process is slow and with the demand for timber and speed of production ,a method called kiln drying came in which as the name implies is the use of a kiln to dry the timber.

 

We wont go into the complexities of kiln drying here as it is a science in its own right.

 

The best wooden gates are made from timber which has been left to equalise its moisture content with the surrounding humidity , in the summer this is about 14% and winter anywhere up to 20%. This timber is therefore what we call stable and suitable for external use.

 

If this external stored timber was used on internal heated buildings you would probably end up with a very attractive wooden corkscrew as the moisture is drawn out of it in an uncontrolled manner

 

The same goes for internal kiln dried timber which may be dried to as low as 7% moisture content, but more than likely will probably be about12%.

 

You can imagine the effect of putting your wooden gates outside that has been constructed with timber dried down to 12% in the winter where the moisture content around it is between 18-20%, it will pull in moisture like a sponge.

 

Therefore what we require is a stabilised piece of timber to start off the construction. We use kiln dried timber which is then left in our open warehouse to acclimatise.  

 

Once we have this and our wooden gates have been made then there are more considerations to take into account and again all these centre around moisture.

 

If you face the wooden gates south then one side more than the other is going to dry out, as one will be in sun and the other shade.

 

This unless we are careful will mean that as the wooden gates dry out one side it will shrink and therefore bend towards the sun. If one leaf had more moisture in than the other then this is when you get one leaf bending more than the other.

 

If a gate is under a tree then it can be in shade which is good as it does not dry out, but it can also get very wet as it is constantly dripped on, but is in shade and never gets dried off.

 

This is when you find the timber decaying and having green moss on it as moisture in the timber soars over 20% which will allow the decay process to commence.

 

Tricky problem !

 

However there are solutions to these problems or at least solutions which give you a good chance of having gates which do not warp, twist or rot.

 

These solutions are as follows:-

 

Lamination

 

Finishing

 

Correct installation.

 

All these will be dealt with in following articles

 

 

 

 

Timber Lamination is joining of timbers along their length in numerous layers which greatly increases its strength and stability.

 

With the increase in adhesive technology the timber industry has been able to produce laminated timber that is far stronger than the original and with regards to wooden gates it remains straight and true which is a real asset when it comes to a pair of gates.

 

The process by which this timber is produced involves the use of modern adhesives which will outlast the timber itself, which means that the adhesive is not going to fail and your wooden gates fall apart.

 

By the application of pressure in large laminating clamps, sections of warped and quite often twisted timber can be processed to produce a piece of timber which clear of major faults and far stronger and more stable than its solid original.

 

So how is this a benefit for wooden gates ?

 

Quite often gates will be subject to dry or wet conditions on one side of the wooden gates, or the timber has been “centre cut” which produces an unstable length of timber subject not only to warps but also a phenomenon know as cupping and the production of cracks down the timber length known as “shakes”

 

This is very awkward in wooden gates as the two leaves will not meet up very well in the middle and the whole structure starts to come out of square, and the shakes tend to look unsightly.

 

Lamination prevents the majority of this occurring, it is like all things not guaranteed but the incidence of warp and twist in timber laminates is very small.

 

This is good news for the production of wooden gates, the gates tend to keep their shape, faults can hidden from view which means that timber that would have to be thrown away can now be used keeping costs down.

Warp and Twist Resistant wooden gates

 

At www.woodengatecompany.co.uk we produce some of our softwood and hardwood gates using a technique called Lamination. (Please check prior to ordering/confirming your order for more details as it is not always possible.)

 

This involves fixing several layers of timber together with adhesives in such a manner that the stresses of the timber are greatly reduced and the piece of timber remains straight and true. Quite often unless you are observant you may not even notice, but the advantages are worth the effort !

 

By using this method we produce a piece of timber that is not only far more stable, but is in fact stronger than the original!

 

Our boarding hardly ever cups and warps, and the gates remain straight

 

We have been using this technique for a number of years and the results are pretty amazing, with dramatic reduction in warping and twisting

 

Timber lamination has been used in industry for many years and is probably in most of your furniture !

 

Most gate manufacturers do not use this method because of cost, and lack of expertise, but we are able to supply this in all our gates, at prices which we think will take you by surprise by their quality and price.

 

Take a look at the web site and work out your own prices it is very simple !