Wooden Gate Care Guide

Looking After Your Wooden Gates

Looking after your wooden gates properly helps protect their appearance, improve durability and reduce the risk of early weathering. This guide explains how we recommend treating and maintaining both softwood and Iroko hardwood gates.

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1. Why treatment matters

Timber is a natural material, so outdoor gates need the right treatment if you want them to continue looking good and performing well over time.

Good treatment helps protect against moisture, weathering and general outdoor exposure. It also helps reduce the risk of premature deterioration and keeps the gate looking more cared for.

Helps protect the timber from the weather
Improves long-term appearance
Reduces the risk of premature wear
Supports the lifespan of the gate

Important: the right treatment depends on the timber. We recommend Barrettine Wood Preserver for softwood gates and Treatex External Oil for Iroko hardwood gates.

2. Softwood vs hardwood: which treatment do I need?

The correct treatment depends on the timber your gate is made from. Softwood and Iroko hardwood behave differently outdoors, so they should not be treated in the same way.

Softwood gates

Use an external wood preservative

For our softwood gates, we recommend Barrettine Wood Preserver. This helps protect the timber and is the right approach for Scandinavian Redwood gates used outdoors.

Best for Scandinavian Redwood softwood gates
Helps protect against outdoor exposure
Needs ongoing maintenance over time

Iroko hardwood gates

Use an external oil

For our Iroko hardwood gates, we recommend Treatex External Oil. This helps maintain the richer appearance of the timber and protects the finish as the gate weathers outdoors.

Best for Iroko hardwood gates
Helps maintain colour and finish
Untreated Iroko will naturally mellow and silver over time

Quick answer: if you have a softwood gate, use Barrettine Wood Preserver. If you have an Iroko hardwood gate, use Treatex External Oil.

3. Treating softwood gates

Our softwood gates should be protected with a suitable external wood preservative. We recommend Barrettine Wood Preserver.

Softwood needs protection against moisture and fungal attack, so using a preservative is an important part of keeping the timber in good condition.

Apply the preservative befoere installation

Do not leave softwood unprotected longer than necessary, treatment before installation is strongly advised.

Use an exterior-grade preservative

We recommend Barrettine Wood Preserver for protecting softwood gates used outdoors.

Maintain it regularly

Reapply as needed to keep the timber protected and looking cared for over time.

Softwood advice: if you want the best life from a softwood gate, regular treatment is essential to prolong its lifespan.

4. Treating Iroko hardwood gates

Our Iroko hardwood gates are best maintained using Treatex External Oil.

Iroko is naturally durable, but applying an external oil helps maintain its richer appearance and gives additional protection against weathering. Without ongoing treatment, Iroko will naturally mellow and gradually silver over time.

Apply external oil evenly

Use a brush and work with the grain for a more even finish.

Use a product suited to hardwood

We recommend Treatex External Oil for Iroko hardwood gates.

Re-oil when needed

Ongoing maintenance helps preserve the colour and finish for longer.

Hardwood advice: Iroko does not need a preservative in the same way as softwood, but it does benefit from oiling if you want to keep that warm, finished appearance.

5. How to apply treatment

The exact method can vary slightly depending on the product, so always check the tin instructions first. As a general guide, treatment is best applied carefully and evenly in suitable weather conditions.

Choose a dry day
Make sure the timber surface is clean and dry
Use end grain sealer on any exposed end grain (the bottom of the gates)
Apply the treatment evenly with a suitable brush
Pay attention to exposed edges and vulnerable areas
Allow proper drying time between coats if required

Practical tip: a careful, even application usually gives a far better result than rushing it on too heavily.

6. Ongoing maintenance: when should you re-treat your gate?

Wooden gates are not a fit-and-forget product. Even a well-made gate will need some maintenance over time, especially when exposed to year-round weather.

The main thing to watch for is not a fixed calendar date, but how the timber and finish are actually looking.

The colour looks faded or washed out
The surface looks dry rather than protected
Water no longer beads on the surface as it used to
Areas exposed to more sun or rain are weathering faster
The gate generally looks like it needs freshening up

Practical advice: it is better to re-treat a gate before it looks badly weathered, rather than waiting until it already looks tired and exposed.

7. Common mistakes to avoid

Using the wrong treatment for the timber
Leaving a new gate untreated for too long
Applying treatment in poor conditions
Assuming hardwood needs no maintenance at all
Assuming one quick coat will last indefinitely

Our honest view: the best results usually come from using the right product consistently, rather than searching for a miracle treatment that means you never need to maintain the gate again.

Need the right treatment for your gate?

Browse our recommended wood treatment products.

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Need help looking after your gates?

If you are unsure what treatment your gate needs, or want help choosing the right product for softwood or Iroko hardwood, we can help.

Get in Touch Call 01925 967 071

You can also send us a photo of your gate and we can advise on the best treatment route.