Treating and protecting timber

Triple natural protection

Outdoor timber faces three simultaneous threats: moisture and freeze-thaw cycles, wood-rotting fungi, and wood-boring insects. True cade oil acts against all three, naturally and without synthetic chemistry.

Protection mechanisms

• Waterproofing: phenols and resins penetrate timber fibres, hydrophobising them from the inside. Resistant to micro-cracks unlike surface paints.
• Antifungal action: phenols inhibit fungi growth in the first layers of treated timber.
• Insect repellence: the tar smell deters female wood-boring insects in laying phase.

Application protocol

1. Prepare the timber: brush off residues, visible mould and flaking old paint.
2. Dry completely: wait at least 48 h of dry weather after rain.
3. Warm the oil slightly (water bath 40–50°C) in cold weather. Never heat over open flame.
4. Apply with a wide brush or short-pile roller, generously. Apply a second coat within the hour on porous timber.
5. Allow to dry 24–48 h before use or rain exposure.
6. Renew every 2–5 years (buried timber: annually).

Cade oil vs creosote

Origin	Plant-based (juniper)
EU regulations	Free use (unlike coal creosote, Reg. 528/2012)
Use near animals	Compatible
Biodegradability	Yes

Estimated consumption

For a standard solid-wood fence: allow 0.2–0.5 L per linear metre. A 5 L drum covers approximately 10–25 m of fencing or a small garden shed.