Frequently Asked Questions

Golden Brown refers to the colour of a Protek Wood Treatment that we use on a selection of our products It is an orange/brown colour in appearance and is usually applied with a paint brush or dip-treated.

Golden Brown timber requires the re-application of a suitable weatherproof or coloured treatment every 1-2 years to maintain the appearance and performance of the wood. You can purchase Protek’s Golden Brown treatment here.

Pressure Treated timber is more durable and long lasting. This treatment is done under pressure which forces chemicals into the wood (thus “pressure treated” wood) Wood that has been tanalised or pressure treated will be more resistant to rot, fungus, mould and insects.

You can safely leave your timber product outside without any further treatment. Overtime, pressure treated wood will fade from it’s initially green colour to a light brown, then to a silvery grey colour. However, if you wish you can give it an added treatment for extra protection after a couple of years.

Yes, you can paint pressure treated timber if you would like to add colour to your garden. This will also give the wood an added layer of protection. However, it is best to wait for a few weeks or more as you should be confident that the wood is completely dry. Otherwise, the paint or stain may peel off.

The life cycle of pressure treated timber will depend on multiple variables including the end use and location of the timber. For example, a shed which is located on a very exposed site might not last as long as one in the corner of a sheltered garden. However, in general we would expect that pressure treated = timber used to construct a garden shed should last for 20 plus years without any extra treatment, assuming it's not in direct contact with a constantly damp surface.

Again, many variables will effect the life cycle of pressure treat timber which is in contact with the ground such as fencing support posts, flower bed retaining and planter boxes. The dimensions of the timber and the soil moisture content will largely effect this. For example, a heavy duty timber sleeper will last longer than a light timber board. If this is located in a part of your garden which is prone to being regularly damp this will also reduce the service of the timber. As a guideline, the service life for 95x95mm (4”x4”) fence support posts is expected to be 10-15 years. However, we have seen wooden posts lasts over 20 years and some fail after 7 years. To prolong their life cycle, it’s important to avoid water collecting around the bottom of the posts. Another excellent option you should consider is Postsaver, click here for more information.