How do you guys maintain your post n rail ? Fences tired looking.

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BBH

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As above really.

Do you literally paint it which doesn't seem practical over many acres or is there an easier way ?
 
Creocote.I don't have post and rail now, use horse netting but the ideas the same as the creocote preserves the wood, while making it look, imho, nicer as it darkens it.
 
I'm having real problems with post & rail since they altered the formulation of wood preserver that was used by manufacturers 4 years ago for tanalised wood. An EU safety ruling. Posts are now very prone to rot in the ground. Creosote can no longer be legally sold so where on earth do you go from there. ?
 
POLLDARK said:
I'm having real problems with post & rail since they altered the formulation of wood preserver that was used by manufacturers 4 years ago for tanalised wood. An EU safety ruling. Posts are now very prone to rot in the ground. Creosote can no longer be legally sold so where on earth do you go from there. ?
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Find a friendly fencing firm/wood dealer, they still might be able to get it for you. I have to do ours this year too and won't use the other rubbish.
 
I creosote every 2 years - the whole lot, mixed with old used engine oil - about 25% oil to creosote.
The fencing is protected on each side these days (for past 10 yrs or so) by electric tape fencing on short posts to keep the fuzzys off it - with handles etc for gateways.
Longest lasting P & R fence went up in 1982, have replaced 3 posts in the damp corner, otherwise its sound as a bell & looking good still.
Most newest is 1994 & that has had a few rails/posts replaced in the top fields due to a livery not putting electric fencer on & her horse scrubbing on it one weekend when I was away - came home to having to replace 6 posts & 5 rails :mad: (I dont have liveries now)
 
You can get some stuff which is identical to creosote but with a different name from Jewsons....:)
 
We creocote but mix it 1/3 creocote with 2/3 waste oil - which should hopefully mean that the fences don't become "weathered" :)

Atm I am a 1/4 of the way through a 6 acre field, I have two more fields to do :eek: But it is paying for my trailer lessons/test!
 
POLLDARK said:
I'm having real problems with post & rail since they altered the formulation of wood preserver that was used by manufacturers 4 years ago for tanalised wood. An EU safety ruling. Posts are now very prone to rot in the ground. Creosote can no longer be legally sold so where on earth do you go from there. ?
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You can still buy creosote, but only in large 30 gallon ish drums. Phone around locally.
 
Its weird about the creosote as I bought a 2 litre bottle in B & Q last weekend ?

I think its more the labour factor I was thinking about in that as someone else has said doing many acres with a paintbrush is not fun and a sprayer would get more on the field than on the fence.
 
You can get creosote at agricultural merchants, I doubt you got it at B&Q, 'twas probably Creocote.

There is no easy way of preserving your P&R fences unless you (a) get someone else to weald the paintbrush or (b) get plastic!
 
Slightly Foxed said:
You can get creosote at agricultural merchants, I doubt you got it at B&Q, 'twas probably Creocote.

There is no easy way of preserving your P&R fences unless you (a) get someone else to weald the paintbrush or (b) get plastic!
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Ahh perhaps thats it then.

Ok wielding of paint brush it is then.
 
Agree with ttt - you can buy creosote from any agricultural merchant. They ask you if it is for personal use. You need to treat it with caution like diesel really - wear gloves avoid splashing (says she who had freckles everywhere).
They are huge containers 30 l and I think we paid just short of £50. Used engine oil is a good preservative on any posts your horses can't touch or rub on as it does not dry like creosote, so mucky stuff.
 
Thanks for the info. I will go to Ag suppliers for creosote. The post have a bit of space around them at the moment as the ground is so dry. I will try pouring some onto the post that is in the ground.
 
I'm not sure you should pour creosote into the ground, it's extremely harmful to the environment, that's why it's restricted now.
 
Slightly Foxed said:
I'm not sure you should pour creosote into the ground, it's extremely harmful to the environment, that's why it's restricted now.
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You don't 'pour it on' as such, you only load up the brush and put it on the post a few inches above the ground; it will then soak down the post but the majority of it will soak into the post as it goes so minimal impact on the land itself and fencing won't be so near a water course so no impact that way either. Nobody is suggesting OP go around with a jug of the stuff and pour it into the ground, that's just stupid and wasteful, it's the wood that needs treating not poisoning the ground instead. If you want to be ultra careful, split open a feed bag and lay it under the rails you are coating to catch any drips and wear breathable gloves, nothing worse than rubber gloves in that job, also wear a hat as it seems to glare back at you, particularly if it's sunny and you come back looking like a beetroot. :) Preferably use long sleeves unless it doesn't affect you if it splashes, I use a thin old anorak kept specially for that job as no matter how careful you are, it does splash and it's a shame to ruin clothes and try not to do it in blazing sun unless you want a headache. I'm doing mine next week, luckily it's a favourite job. :D
 
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