Timber treatment to log roll lawn edging?

[Bruce]

I have bought some cheap log roll lawn edging from Wickes. It is

300mm (12 inches) high. I want to stain the top half green to match our fences and shed. But I also want to apply a long-lasting preservative to the bottom half that will be buried in soil.

Any suggestions as to what would work best? In the past I would simply have stood the wood in creosote and allowed it to soak in for a few days. Obviously I cannot buy creosote. There is creosote substitute, and I have some used engine oil. Any ideas please?

[The Medway Handyman]

Its pressure treated according to the Wickes site. Does it need any extra treatment?

[Bruce]

I don't think I have that one.

The current stock is from Border fencing and, as you say, it is pressure treated - and it looks it. Mine was old stock, unbranded, and it doesn't appear to be pressure treated.

Hence my question.

[meow2222]

I could only offer a couple of experiences, others may know more. Creosote, which you could buy if mildly determined, killed almost everything within several feet when applied, so doesnt sound like an ideal lawn edging preservative. 50/50 oil & paraffin I first used on a low timber retaining wall in untreated softwood, in contact with damp soil 24/7, and there was no sign of any deterioration a number of years later - I was quite surprised.

NT

[Bruce]

It would not be in contact with any vegetation, because I only intend to treat the buried section. I think creosote might have been ideal, but now there is only "creosote substitute", which doesn't fill me with any optimism.

Thanks - that sounds like a good idea. I have plenty of old oil and a can of paraffin.

[The Natural Philosopher]

If it ain't pressure treated it will rot in 2-4 years, if it is it will rot in 10-20 years, underground. Nothing you can apply will change this.

[Bruce]

[mail]

The only way to get it to last in ground contact by treatment is to put in 8 kg per m 3 CCA and it will last more than 60 years (motorway fence posts were done to 4 kgs and did not all last!) I would have some doubts about Wickes pressure treatment until I knew exactly what was specified - there is pressure and pressure !

Given that it is now allegedly treated the best thing you can do is a) dip treat for 12 hours in an OS borne fungicide and allow to dry b) soak in a water repellant wax or the like c) apply a healty does of pitch or bitumen to the end grain d) if you feel like it wrap in a dpc

It might be cheaper just to replace it when it rots! Chris

[The Natural Philosopher]

The latter is my view.

Ive used a fair annount of wod round te garden..pressure treated and not

- to hold up trees. It laways rots in the gruund eventually. The pressure treated last longer, but not forever.

Had a lovely rustic seat from Germany. Round pine poles all treated up. Thats done about ten years and collapsed in a pile of rot.

[Bruce]

Well, that's probably true. What I should have done is waited until Wickes got the new stock in, which is all pressure treated. It is made by Border Fencing, too, so that should be an indicator of at least a reasonable quality.

Instead, I got it on the cheap, thinking I could soak it in creosote, and only then remembered - no creosote!

[meow2222]

No, creosote still exists and is still buyable. But getting it does involve use of brain.

NT

[The Natural Philosopher]

The main problem is that the underground section of any wood rapidly becomes sodden. Surface treatment kills spores that land on the surface, and may halt undergound mycelia for a while, but sooner or later something is going to break through and start feasting on the inside.

Ive driven in some treated fence poles and gateposts: I expect about 15 years max out of them.

[Bruce]

Rather than making condescending comments, is there any possibility that you could make a practical suggestion as to where it can still be bought?

[Huge]

We had the power poles to our house replaced last year, not because of rot, but because of woodpecker damage. They were over 40 years old, and the bases were fine - the man from the 'leccy board couldn't pull them out with his machine and ended up chainsawing them off at ground level.

[Tim Lamb]

In message , Bruce writes

I bought creosote from a builders merchant post restriction. Nobody even asked if I was a *professional user* but this was a 25litre drum and purchased as an account holder. Phone round the BMs and ask.

regards

[Bruce]

Thanks Tim.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Those things were simply soaked in tar weren't they?

[Huge]

Pressure treated with creosote, I think, judging by the smell and the colour of them where they've been sawn through.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Not sure they had pressure treating that long ago..

It IS possible, if you wait long enough, to completely soak wood in preservative.

It takes about as long as air drying does..a year or two.

[Rod]

I thought that, whatever was done prior to installation, they topped it up by pouring creosote into a mini-trench round the base of the pole. This would then be sucked up the pole by capillary action.

(I suppose that should be 'bottomed it up' rather than 'topped it up' - but it doesn't sound right. :-) )