How to protect Metbau post and rail fence?

[skippy79]

I’m building a post and rail rural look fence using dressed oiled merbau 90 mm square posts and 140 x 40mm top rail. 
what is the recommended product to protect and maintain these timbers?

[Jason]

Hi @skippy79,

Apologies for the slow reply and welcome to the community. We hope you get loads of project inspiration and advice from the amazing Bunnings Workshop community.

One of our resident Bunnings D.I.Y. experts will be happy to give their recommendations as soon as possible. In the meantime, let me tag a few other helpful members to share their thoughts on what product they would use: @woodalwaysworks, @Dave-1, @JoeAzza.

Jason

[Dave-1]

Good morning @skippy79 

I havnt actually put any timber into the ground that hasnt been H3 rated in the past couple of decades I nerally have put things in on stirrups with concrete footings so no contact is made with the soil, my latest efforts have been to use earth screw posts in a tight area for posts, yet to see how they hold up

For merbau, I can only think  several extra coats of oil before putting them into the ground so they have protection against rotting as much as possible.

For the above ground I would use decking oil and in the first 2 years oil them every 6 months at least. It gives a good starting base for an exposed life.

Dave

[skippy79]

Dave I thank you for the advice. I’m not putting the Merbau into the ground but using high wind post anchor brackets a Dunning product concreted in the ground. I know the laminated merbau posts are stable but not suitable for below ground [ the laminated merbau posts glue line breaks down]. I was just after maintenance of the above ground merbau fence posts and rails. I have since purchased the Cabots naturally pigmented merbau decking oil. Oil based not water based. 

[EricL]

Hello @skippy79 

My apologies for the late reply. The Cabot's 4L Merbau Natural Decking Oil you've chosen should provide excellent protection and extend the service life of your posts and rails. My best advice is to make sure that the timber pieces you're using have been seasoned and are ready to be oiled.

If you need further assistance, please let us know. 

Eric