Enhancing Your Wood Grain

The majority of our customers are investing in wooden garden gates and driveway gates for many reasons. Whether it is for their stability, security or durability. But ultimately we all really love the visual of wooden structures, particularly when the grain stands out. So how can you enhance the grain on your gates to give you that stunning natural appeal?

BK Timber Woods

Here at BK TImer, we primarily use Scandinavian redwood for our gates. We use this type of wood for many reasons, from the high quality of the wood to the sustainability and even down to the unique grain that it offers.

Enhancing The Grain

There are a number of suggested ways to enhance the grain of your wood. Some work best for internal wooden features, whereas others work well in weatherproofing your wood.
The most effective way to enhance the grain in your gates is to treat the wood with an oil-based stain. The stain will effectively latch onto the darker features in the grain to increase their appearance. Here are some tips for effective staining:

1. First, remove any dust, stickiness, polish, wax, paint, grease or dirt by either sanding, using a wax and polish remover or a paint and varnish remover. White Spirit also works well as a degreaser. If you are staining new gates, we recommend giving them a quick clean to remove any remaining dust that may have stuck to them.
2. Next, sand the old surface to provide a clean, fresh surface for your wood staining product. Ensure that the final sand is done with a fine paper as this will provide the best results after staining.
3. Wipe down your freshly sanded surface with a damp cloth to remove any debris
4. Ensure thorough and effective stirring before starting your application and then periodically throughout use to ensure a nice even finish. Pigmentation tends to sink so stirring the bottom effectively is key.
5. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the tin or container to the letter, applying the stain with either a sponge, brush or lint-free cloth
6. Use smooth, continuous movements, following the grain rather than working against it and applying the wood colour evenly
7. Leave it to dry according to the instructions. As a general rule, the longer you leave it, the darker the tone. You can always wipe small areas off and back on to check progress. Bear in mind it’s much easier to apply more stain than try to remove it when you’ve gone too far
8. When you’ve achieved the right depth of colour leave it to dry, again as per the instructions

For outdoor use, the best weatherproofing oils are usually Linseed, Walnut and Tung oils. For the right one for you, we recommend heading over to your local DIY store and reading the specifications for each. Please be aware to avoid walnut oil where nut allergies are present. Boiled linseed oil contains metal drying agents, so please be aware that you cannot use any leftovers on products that are near food.

For more information on bespoke wooden gates for your driveway or garden, please get in touch with a member of our friendly team who will be happy to assist you. Check back to our blogs regularly for more information and ideas on how we can work with you and your home.