Blog

Planning and constructing your featheredge fence

This is not a definitive account on constructing a featheredge fence and assumes a moderate amount of DIY knowledge. When deciding on whether to DIY or employ a tradesman remember there will be a considerable amount of work involved during construction. However, these fences are flexible and create a sense of uniformity particularly in sloping gardens.

Featheredge panels or featheredge boards?

While featheredge panels are quick to install on level ground, they are not so quick and easy to install on irregular height gardens. You also need to consider whether the final design is intended primarily for appearance or privacy, for security or safety?

38 x 88mm Sawn Pressure Treated Rails (FSC Mix)

Sawn, pressure treated fence rails are mainly used for featheredge fencing and "Post and rail". These fence rails are machined from unseasoned timber, then cut into popular lengths. All the timbers are pressure treated, aka tanalised, at the mill.

Fencing rail lengths

The most common use for 38 x 88mm rails is the framework for a featheredge fence. Our standard rail lengths are 3.0m, 3.6m, 4.2m and 4.8 metres which means that the post spacing can be varied to suit the installation site.  Ideally rail Joints should be staggered so that the rails do not meet on the same

Low Level Fencing is sometimes required when your garden needs some screening but regular fence panels are just a little too tall.  Low Level Fencing can make a positive, attractive addition to your garden. Perfect for marking boundaries a low-level fence should also add to  the kerb appeal of your property.  So, what options do we have?

Fence Panels 6’ x 3’

Probably the quickest and easiest fencing solution, but a little old-hat. Choosing an “open” design – lattice or trellis - would help in many situations. If you do opt for low fence panels then secure your preferred posts and then include your preferred lattice, or Trellis, between them. The 6’ x 3’ lattice allows sunlight through the squares but remember to raise and secure the lattice slightly higher than the prevailing soil. Anything other than posts, treated for ground-use, is likely to start rotting away after 6-7 years.    

Pales

Well, time to look at another five fantastic garden products heading our way.

The first item is Hutton's DP1 Planter. This 1 metre long planter can be moved around the garden until a favourable position is identified.  

The Raised Vegetable Planter is next, ideal for keeping garlic, sage, mint and other herbs near to your back door.  (RVP shown above)  Provides more height and requires less bending and nurturing than a raised bed. Keep the vegetable planter near the back door and you can monitor progress. 

Next is the unusual shaped LHP - Large

Well, apparently Spring is “just” around the corner, and for good measure it is almost Easter. At Southern Timber we believe there is no point waiting for a heatwave in late June when everybody has stripped the shelves bare.  We have put together our top 10 products for the spring, summer and autumn. Incoming deliveries should be starting from Monday 25th. March 2024.   In no particular order:

Starting with the Children’s Round Picnic Table – seats about 4-6 youngsters, but don’t let the adults on!  The Wye Rectangular Picnic Table  measures in at about 1.8 metres  long and seats up to 6 adults. This Wye Picnic Bench, or Picnic Table, has been a top-seller for years.  

Another top seller has been the

I have just been looking at some of the new Millboard Cladding and Decking products. One of the questions we frequently get asked is, ‘what is Millboard Decking made from?’ That prompted me to revamp an article written several years ago. 

It might surprise you to know that our Millboard deckboards contain no timber or plastic. Millboard decking is made from a revolutionary Polyurethane resin, reinforced with mineral stone, and surfaced with a unique Lastane® coating.

Conventional composite boards typi

A Good Customer of Southern Timber - John Pook from DDE Electrical Engineering came to Aaron Millman from Southern Timber wanting to winterproof a log cabin he had back at home. Aaron went up to have a look at the best options for cladding the cabin. It was then later agreed that some douglas fir waney edge would be most cost effective and look amazing with the area where it was located.

John then placed his order with Southern Timber and within a few weeks it had arrived. Over the course of 5 weekends total John, Aaron and other friends completed the cladding on the cabin. The cabin is much warmer and looks fantastic thanks to the materials and expert help / advice from Southern Timber.

Here at Southern Timber, we are able to supply a vast species of timber in Decking, Cladding and even fencing applications via special order.

If you have an enquiry, please email it to [email protected] or alternativley call

Putting some Osmo colour into your garden

What could be better than relaxing in your own garden on a summer’s day. A little colour in the right place will freshen up your outdoors even more - touch up the colours of a fence, old garden shed or renovating a gate. With the right products from Osmo, your garden will be rejuvenated and you will have more time to enjoy your garden.

Making light work of it

One of the beauties of Osmo is that almost all Osmo coatings and finishes can be applied directly without any sanding – no priming either, just two thin coats of Osmo Country Colour can perform miracles. This is also the case when Osmo products were used for the previous coating.

An opaque finish

For coatings from other manufacturers, Osmo recommends sanding down the surface before adding any Osmo products. When re-applying it is best to use a roller on smooth surfaces and

Our Character Oak Flooring boards are tongue and groove along the long edges.  We call them "Character" but they are probaby a higher grade.  These solid Oak boards are linked to a specific production ensuring consistency of product. It has a lower moisture content compared to many boards; kiln dried to 8-10 % to which gives a greater stability to the boards. This supply also generates a good range of lengths, at the time of writing we have 3.05 to 4.29 metre lenths available in stock. 

This oak grade typica;lly displays a variety of figuring which gives  colour, small splits, large and small knots. Consequently we recommend allowing for 15% wastage.  Osmo Polyx Hardwax Oil is available in clear finishes (matt, satin, satin-matt, natural and gloss) along with a range of Osmo Colour

Awaiting Update 12th January 2024

A combination of using latest generation Tanalith E wood preservative, careful pre-treatment timber preparations, the use of high quality pine timbers and approved treatment procedures allow us to offer a 15 Year TREATED-RIGHT Performance Warranty.

This warranty is available on Hutton Garden Products and also on the Severn Valley range of decking and cladding products.

The 15 Year TREATED-RIGHT Performance Warranty covers the failure of these products from wood decay and insect attack giving you total confidence in their long term performance.