Get Ready for Spring: Timber Solutions for Early Outdoor Projects

With the arrival of March, it's a great time to get started on new projects, as the first official month of spring brings us warmer, drier, and more stable weather conditions, as well as increased daylight hours to ensure projects get the full time they deserve. By starting in early spring, you also place yourself ahead of the peak curve, where many people only think about their gardens the moment they can use them. By planning and finishing early, you get to enjoy the project for the length of the summer, as well as the years that follow.

Top Timber Products for Fencing, Decking and Garden Enhancements

Having established what makes timber such an excellent choice of material for outdoor projects in the springtime, it's time to take a look at the best timber fencing and decking solutions and the trade timber supplies we at Woodworks Timber have on offer for all your project’s needs.

Fencing

If you’re looking for excellent fencing choices, then look no further than our Heavy-Duty Lap Fence Panels, a sturdy over-lap style fence panel that comes fully framed with capping for stability. These heavy-duty panels have a golden-brown finish from treatment to increase their resistance to rot.

Decking

For satisfying and durable decking, look to our softwood Grooved & Smooth Imported Decking Boards, pressure-treated for protection against fungus and insects, allowing you to enjoy them from the day of installation. 

Garden Enhancements

If you’re looking for the best timber to enhance your garden with a few new features, you can’t go wrong with Treated Railway Sleepers. A versatile hunk of timber that can be used to make raised vegetable beds, borders, rockeries, retaining walls, borders and much, much more.  

Timber Preparation and Maintenance Tips

Once you have your project outlined and have got the right timber and right tools, there are a few crucial steps you need to take to ensure that your timber is properly prepared. Without the right care, the high-quality timber you have just purchased will warp and swell with moisture. It can be susceptible to rot and the ravages of weathering, but following a few key steps will protect your investment and keep your outdoor structures looking the part well into the future. 

Allow Timber to Dry Before Finishing

If your timber is freshly pressure-treated or feels damp at all, it’s important to be patient and let it dry out fully after installation before applying stains or paints. 

Use a Quality Wood Preserver or Stain

When your timber is completely dry, we can then apply our preserver or stain to provide a shielding layer for the wood. Choose a quality product designed for exterior wood, such as Ever Build Triple Action Wood Treatment, which penetrates the wood to prevent rot and insect attack. 

Seal Cut Ends and Joints

As you install your project, you’ll inevitably need to cut your timber down to size, but any time you cut a piece of pressure-treated timber, you expose wood that isn’t fully protected. Using something like Ronseal End Grain Preserver ensures you treat exposed ends and drill holes to prevent water penetration from decaying your fresh new timber. 

Choose The Right Weather Window

When sealing and applying your finishes, it’s important to choose to do this during a period of dry, mild weather, with a temperature ideally above 5⁰C. Most wood stains require around 48 hours of dry weather to properly set, but applying them on days that are too hot can cause the stain to dry too quickly and not penetrate deeply enough. So choosing the right time to finish your project is just as important as choosing when to start it.

Maintain Your Timber Regularly

And finally, it’s important to maintain your timber project over the years, which shouldn’t take too much of your time. Simply cleaning wood surfaces once a year by brushing off debris and possibly power-washing to remove algae, dirt, moss, and mildew will be enough to extend the life of your timber. Check brackets and screws and tighten up anything loose to keep the structure sound and apply your stain or sealant every 2-3 years for optimal protection.

Get a Head Start on Your Outdoor Transformations

With spring hitting its stride, the mild weather, dry days and approaching summer make March a perfect time to get started on your timber projects to make sure your garden is ready and prepped to enjoy all summer long. By utilising high-quality timber and preservatives like those we stock at Woodworks Timber, you’ll be able to complete your projects to the highest standards and maintain them effectively for years to come.

If you want to make sure your garden is summer-ready, get started now and look to Woodworks Timber for all your outdoor project needs!