The Elephant Timber Guide to Treated Outdoor Timber

Using treated outdoor timber can transform your garden, patio, courtyard or veranda, by providing a blend of natural beauty and functionality. Our live edge timber is perfect for creating outdoor picnic tables, garden benches, love seats, storage racks, bar tops, decking, planter boxes, swing seats and pergolas.

• Choose a durable wood species, such as oak, cedar or sweet chestnut.
• Select a thicker slab of wood, to prevent it from cracking or warping in the sun.
• Apply a high-quality outdoor sealant to protect against moisture, UV rays and temperature changes.
• Consider using a stain with UV protection to maintain the wood’s colour and integrity.
• Regularly clean and reseal the wood to extend its life and maintain its appearance.
• Ensure the wood is properly dried and treated to minimise warping and cracking.
• Provide adequate support for larger pieces to prevent sagging or breaking.
• Use covers or place furniture under shelter when not in use to protect the treated wood from extreme weather conditions.
• Avoid direct contact with the ground to prevent any moisture absorption and decay.

Our guide

For more information on how to treat timber for outdoor use, the experts at Elephant Timber have created a Treated Outdoor Timber Guide. Download the Treated Outdoor Timber guide as a PDF. We stock a wide range of unique timber slabs, suitable for building outdoor furniture, in our online shop.

Get in touch

We can assist you with every aspect of choosing the right timber. You can visit us at our warehouse to view our timber, suitable for outdoor projects, in person. Our normal opening hours are Monday-Friday 07:30 – 17:00. Please contact us on 07941 034 822 to make an appointment, as we are not always based in the workshop. Out-of-hours or weekend appointments can be made by arrangement.