Untreated Wooden Gate Swelling in the Wet and Jamming Kitchens, doors, rails, stud, tables, chairs, stair cases, garden furniture etc... Find answers and ask questions here!

[stronach]

I had to have a new side gate due to a neighbour having some building work done. He kindly agreed to pay for it and the builders had one made to fit and their carpenter fitted it about 3 months ago. It had some sort of treatment applied and I added a coat of Sadolin extra wood stain. However the gate had jammed twice and I have had to sand the edge down with my drill which was messy and time consuming. I noticed that the gate is only white wood, not tannalised so that is why it is swelling after wet weather. Is their anything I can do about this apart from getting a tannalised wood gate? I am reluctant to do this as it is a solid gate and it would look bad to my neighbour who has been very good to me.

[DocMartin]

Funnily enough, I just hung a garden gate, painted it with Sadolin (two coats - Teak colour) and it too has swollen a little and needs easing.

Here's the thing - although my gate was untreated also, I don't think that Tanalising stops water swelling wood. Tanalising is an anti-rot treatment, not a paint or waterproofer. So, that has no effect on the swelling at all.

The fact is, in your case, as in my case, not enough of a gap was left between the gate and the frame to allow for seasonal movement like this.

I'm going to plain a bit off the edge of my gate and repaint the edge. Which is what you'll have to do if it starts binding again. Getting a tanalised gate won't help you at all!

[stronach]

Thanks DocMartin, I note your comments and appreciate the advice.