A wooden gate is an excellent investment for any home. It can improve the kerb appeal and provide a solid, attractive addition to your property. However, like all timber products, maintenance and care are essential to ensure it lasts for years and remains in perfect condition, all year round.
Read on below as we explore weatherproofing a wooden gate and the steps you should take to care for different gate types, to resist and minimise the effects of the great British elements.
What’s Best For Joinery That’s Going To Be Outside?
When you’re planning to have a timber product outside in the UK, ensuring it has robust protection against rain, frost, UV rays, and fluctuating temperatures is vital. The best solution to this is to invest in a penetrating protective coating. This typically comes in the form of a high-quality oil or an external wood stain, specifically designed to be flexible and water-repellent.
An oil will soak into the wood fibres, allowing the timber to breathe and move naturally. It will offer excellent water resistance and a natural look, but will require more frequent re-application (often yearly).
An external wood stain, on the other hand, creates a protective film on the surface of the gate, whilst still allowing the wood’s grain to show through. High-quality stains will often contain additives, such as fungicides and UV inhibitors, to offer longer-lasting protection.
What You Shouldn’t Do
Always use an external-grade varnish or paint. Interior finishes are often too rigid for outdoor use. When the wood naturally expands and contracts due to changes in outdoor temperature and humidity, a rigid finish will crack, allowing water ingress and leading to peeling, which can trap moisture and ultimately cause rot.
Painting Instead Of Staining
Paint can also be a good barrier against the elements. It will completely seal the wood. If your goal is maximum longevity, you’re not too fussed about seeing the wood’s grain, and you’d rather have a specific colour, then a good exterior wood paint is an excellent choice.
The key differences between painting and staining are as follows:
| Feature | Wood Stain/Oil | Exterior Paint |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetics | Allows wood grain to show through | Completely obscures the grain and colour. |
| Maintenance | Requires re-oiling/re-staining every 1-3 years. | Typically lasts 5-10 years before re-application. |
| Protection | Repels water and UV, allowing wood to breathe. | Total seal against all elements. |
| Prep Work | Simple cleaning and light sanding. | More extensive prep – priming and sealing. |
Should You Seal The Knots?
Yes, the knots should always be sealed on a wooden gate, especially before painting. Knots are dense, resin-rich areas of the wood. They can ‘bleed’ through paint and stain, leaving a sticky yellow-brown mark. This can be particularly noticeable on lighter finishes.
You can prevent the knots on a piece of wood from bleeding through by using a specialised knotting solution or a shellac-based primer, applied directly to the knots. Once you’ve applied a couple of coats, allowing it to dry fully between coats, you can proceed with priming or painting.
Softwood and Hardwood: Is There A Difference?
The right weatherproofing will depend on whether you are buying a softwood or a hardwood gate.
Softwood, such as pine, spruce or cedar, will typically be pressure-treated upon purchase. This wood will usually be more porous, so robust surface protection is recommended.
Hardwood, on the other hand, such as oak, iroko or teak, is naturally more dense and weather-resistant. Many hardwoods are best treated with an oil, such as teak or Danish oil, to maintain their colour and prevent silvering, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful natural wooden finish rather than fully painting the surface.
How To Paint Or Seal Your Wooden Gates
For optimal, long-lasting results, follow these steps.
Our Top Tips
- Preparation is key. Always start with clean, dry wood. If you’re treating an older gate, use sandpaper to remove flaking material. If there is any green mould or algae, treat it with a mild fungicidal wash and then rinse thoroughly.
- Ensure a good key. Lightly sand the entire surface with a medium-grit paper to provide a ‘key’ for the finish to adhere to. Always wipe away any dust with a cloth before applying any product.
- Primer/undercoat. If you plan to paint your gate, make sure to apply a dedicated exterior wood primer or undercoat first. This will bond to the wood, seal the surface, and prepare it for a topcoat.
- Application. Apply your chosen finish in light, even coats. Always go in the direction of the wood grain, and remember, multiple thin coats will always look far superior to one thick coat!
Why Should You Always Paint Or Seal The Bottom Of A Wooden Gate?
Arguably, one of the most important steps in weatherproofing a wooden gate is sealing the bottom of the gate. However, it is often missed.
The bottom of a wooden gate is the part that is most susceptible to moisture damage. When it rains, water will pool around the bottom rail, and the timber acts like a sponge, drawing water up into the wood. The bottom of the gate is close to the ground, and this is where moisture levels will naturally be higher due to dew, splashback and standing water.
When the bottom edge is left bare, it is the perfect entry point for water. This can lead to rot that quickly travels upwards and outwards.
Always ensure the bottom edge is fully coated with the same product used on the rest of the gate.
How Do You Protect Ironmongery and Hardware?
Gate hinges can sometimes seize up in freezing temperatures when moisture gets into the metal components. To prevent this, lubricate the hinges to prevent ice from forming and allow the gates to move freely.
Dealing With Weather-Related Movement
Wood is an organic material. It constantly reacts to moisture. In cold, wet conditions, like during the winter months, wood will absorb water, causing the timber to swell. You may notice that a gate is more difficult to close. In hot, dry weather during the summer, moisture evaporates from the wood, causing it to shrink back, sometimes creating gaps.
There is no way to stop nature from doing what it does, but understanding how wood changes throughout the months means you can manage the effects. Taking preventative measures, such as using the appropriate protective treatment, is an excellent way to minimise the damage. As long as a gate is well-maintained and treated periodically, there is no reason why it should not last for a long time.
