Timber fences & retaining walls are quite the Australian backyard icon. They can provide your home with privacy, effective wind & sun breaks, sound barriers, & help to keep kids, pets & footballs in.
Whilst a timber fence can last a lifetime with some very basic care & can be completely maintained without a lot of effort or cost, treated pine is like any other timber product & it must be maintained.
Timber is a reasonably resilient material, but bad handling & poorly organised storage on job sites could potentially lead to damage & wastage.
In order to maintain correct moisture content, physical appearance & discourage any splitting, decaying or discolouration, it is important to store timber products correctly prior to construction.
The packaging around Timber products is designed to protect it during transport only. Store timber products under adequate cover that not only protects the product from weather but is also well ventilated to prevent condensation.
You must always stack timber on a solid, flat surface with even supports & level packers to prevent warping, bowing, sagging, or touching the ground.
There are three main groups that pose a threat to the longevity & appeal of your fencing & landscaping projects.
Regardless of how well you care for your timber fence or retaining wall, if they have not been properly built, they could be destroyed in a short period of time.
The best way to protect your treated timber against the harsh Australian elements & ensure your hard work looks great for years to come is to nail, screw or fix your treated pine correctly.
For construction recommendations, please refer to the following Data Sheets from Timber Queensland
Although your timber is treated against both rot & insect attack, it is not treated against twisting, ageing, splitting or swelling. The various chemicals used in treated pine, combined with the fast growing nature of the pine species mean that it is easily affected by temperature, moisture & humidity changes.
Two elements that may impact the longevity of a timber fence are dry & wet rot.
There is no guaranteed method to eliminate the nature of treated pine to disfigure. However the use of a quality treated pine oil, paint or other water and UV repellent product will do a great deal to reduce the problem. On an accurately constructed outdoor timber fence, you can prevent & minimise these elemental effects through the application of a protective finish immediately after installation. You should also remove any constant sources of water, such as sprinklers or pool drains away from your fence.
To ensure ongoing structural stability & safety, regular monitoring & visual inspections of retaining walls is essential. You should especially inspect after weather events like heavy rainfall, detecting any cracks or ruptures, excessive movement, drainage issues & physical or environmental changes, all of which should be attended to immediately.
When branches become old or heavy, they can break off & cause significant damage to your fence. Yard debris such as leaves, also aid in the accelerating rot in wood. Make sure you trim back any branches that overhang your fence line. Try to keep palings off the ground & away from garden matter.
Fast 2K fence post backfill is a two part composite that does not require water & is supplied in handy, leightweight kits.
It can be used to install many different types of posts such as:
Fast 2K expands & sets to 50% of full strength in just three minutes, reaching 100% within two hours.