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why is my new fence wood black and mouldy -is this okay?
natalie 4
Posts: 21
Hi there, I'm looking for a little advice since I'm very new to all things gardening! I'm having my garden fenced in. Yesterday the builder dropped off the wood for me to start staining. Only problem is that most of it is black with a white mould on it. It's soaking wet also. My builder is a bit of a nightmare, but that's another story, but he assures me the wood is pressure treated and says I'm being ridiculous to expect clean wood. So I have a few questions I hoped you can help me with... firstly, is this wood okay to use? Is it normal to have black mouldy wood from the timber merchant? Secondly, how do I get rid of it? Will it come good if I pressure wash it? How long does the wood need to dry out? I live in Scotland so it could be many months until I see a sunny day, but generally speaking how long would i need to allow for a fence wood to dry out? It's a water based stain so does the wood need to be bone dry? Thank you in advance for your help.
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Sounds like its been left to get damp for awhile and isn't treated. I would ask for new panels, they're not cheap are they. Fence panels usually need another coat of preserver aswell tho. I would say wood does need to be dry.
I would reject it and ask for it to be replaced.
It shouldn't be mouldy if it's been pressure treated. If it's gone black then it's stained and may show through your wood stain. I would reject it too.
My panelling is old and now rotting a bit, but it's never been black or had mould on it. I can't see how it can have been pressure treated. I agree reject it.
I should say it's timber, not actual panels
I'd still ask for it to be replaced. We have fencing down one side of our garden and a couple of panals are quite old now , there's no mould on them and only need replacing because of next doors large shrub growing through it!
The merchants I've been to have their wood undercover. I'd tell the builder it isn't "fit for purpose" you ordered wood that was for fencing that would be stained when delivered, this is not suitable for staining and might never be. It might even be 2nd hand and the builder has obtained it from another source.
Hi Natalie. This is part of a batch of timber I got a couple of weeks ago for a bit of fence. It looked blacker than this, but once the pack was opened up it lightened as it was able to breathe.
I used it while it was wet and the following day it was dry, and I painted it :
Most big timber merchants who are turning out loads of timber don't have the capacity to store it under cover, and it's often soaking wet when it's lifted and transported. I personally wouldn't be worried about using it, but, if you're not happy with it, contact the merchant and discuss it. Opened out, fencing timber will dry out quite quickly even at this time of year and will take paint.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
here's a small section of what it looks like if this helps?
Doesn't look any worse than mine Natalie
We've had horrible weather in the last few days but you'll find it'll dry out a lot today assuming your weather is like mine - I'm a bit further east than you in central Scotland
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...