What’s the best way to weatherproof a wooden gate?

This is a question often asked, but this is somewhat of a misnomer as you cannot really totally weatherproof a wooden gate. You can not make a wooden gate fully impervious to the effects of weather such rain, sun, snow, and humidity, because wood is a natural material that expands, contracts, and absorbs moisture to some degree.
 

However, you can weatherproof a wooden gate in a practical sense by treating it to resist and minimise the effects of the elements.

 

What You Can Do:

Oiling a gate is the best way to weatherproof a wooden gate

  • Water Resistance: You can make the gate highly resistant to water and moisture by using a modern wood oil. This treatment creates a protective barrier on the surface of the wood.  The oils essentially “fill” the microscopic holes as it is absorbed into the wood and stops deterioration. (Click HERE for more information).
  • UV Protection: To protect the gate from sun damage (which causes cracking and fading), UV based oil will slow down the deterioration from exposure. We recommend a UV Oil such as Osmo.
  • Prevention of Rot and Insects: Certain wood treatments, especially those containing fungicides or insecticides, help guard against rot and insect damage. Our pressure treated gates protect against wood rot and insect attack. However, the elements and UV rays will slowly degrade the effectiveness of the pressure treatment.
  • If the budget allows, opt for a hardwood gate as hardwoods are naturally more resistant to decay and rot than softwoods and will last longer.

What You Cannot Do:

  • Have Total Immunity: Wood will never be completely immune to weathering. Over time, even with the best treatments, wooden gates will experience wear and tear, including some degree of fading, cracking, or warping. As the image below shows applying a modern UV oil will help to alleviate this but over time a gate will naturally wear from weathering and use.

Modern UV Oil is the best way to weatherproof a wooden gate

 

  • Permanent Protection: No treatment is permanent. Weatherproofing treatments will need to be reapplied regularly—typically every 1  year, depending on the weather conditions and aspect of the gate.

So, while “weatherproofing” isn’t absolute, it’s more about minimising weather damage rather than completely eliminating it. If a gate in maintained well, and treated regularly, there is no reason why it should not last for a long time.