Firstly, why is it important?
Softwood gates are more vulnerable to the elements. The heat can cause the wood to become discoloured, dry out and possible warp if one side receives more sun than the other.

How should maintenance be carried out?
It is important to treat your gates with a UV Oil, before hanging them out in the elements if they are new.  This prevents moisture ingress, which can cause swelling, warping and degradation of the timber. If the gates are already hung, then treat them during the warmer months when there is as little moisture in the gates as possible.

The wood should be clean and dry. Using a flat brush or a microfibre roller, apply the oil thinly and evenly to the clean and dry wood along the wood grain and spread well. Allow to dry for approx. 12 hours under good ventilation. After drying, thinly apply a second coat.

If signs of wear become visible, before your annual planned gate maintenance, simply re-apply one coat onto the clean and dry surface.

Want some colour?
A tinted UV oil can be applied  to your gates. Some of these oils are just a tint and some can be more opaque crating a “painted look”.

Is this as  important as softwood maintenance?
Iroko hardwood gates are more resistant and less vulnerable to the elements. However, it can be prone to water staining, lose its colour over time and turn into a silver-grey shade. Therefore, regular maintenance is also recommended.

What is the maintenance process?
As for softwood gates, it is important to treat your gates with a UV Oil, before hanging them out in the elements if they are new. Iroko gates are also best treated in the warmer months to avoid potential moisture interfering with the results.

Some wood oil manufacturers state that hard woods needs to weather off (for approx. 6 weeks) after installation. Thereby, the wood becomes absorbent and the wood finish adheres optimally. However, due to the British weather, gates are exposed to strong weathering so it will be very difficult to maintain a maximum moisture content of 20% and avoid staining. This is why Charltons recommend that treatment is applied before the gates are hung.

When new, an iroko gate should be wiped down with methylated spirits prior to treating with oil to allow the oil to bond better with the wood.

Again, as with softwood, if signs of wear become visible before your annual planned gate maintenance, simply re-apply one coat onto the clean and dry surface.

Finally….

Hardwood and softwood gates are both great options to create an appealing exterior to your home. However, regular maintenance is recommended to keep your wooden driveway gate looking its best throughout all of the seasons. Having spent money on a hardwood gate for your property, it makes sense to ensure that your investment is given the best possible protection to keep it looking good.

Check out our range of wooden driveway gates here. All of our gates are “Made in Britain” at our Joinery in Somerset.