In message , Chris Holford
writes
In article , ss
writes
I know there are all sorts of preservatives in B&Q etc for painting on
fence posts but isnt there a longer term solution like coating the part
below ground with something to stop water soaking in to the posts, like
a plastic coating. I am basing my enquiry on the basis of thinking most
of the bog standard preservatives are so enviromentally friendly they
probably are not really much good.

Any thoughts or ideas on this.
At my last house I drilled a 1/4" dia. hole into the posts about 4"
above ground level and angled about 45degrees downwards. Each year I
squirted 'Cuprinol' into each hole to fill it. Each hole was plugged
with a short piece of dowel left protruding by about 1/4". Posts are
still there after 30 years. Don't know if that sort of 'Cuprinol ' is
still available.

When I read this, I thought that, somewhere in 'the works', my post had
been edited. Then I realised that I had only saved mine as a draft copy.
It's almost word-for-word. This is what I said:

"To maintain the effectiveness of the preservation, at about 6" above
the ground, drill a (say) 1/2" hole to the centre of the post, and at a
downwards angle of 45 degrees. Fill the hole with preservative (as
above, or creosote/creocote), and put a watertight bung in it. Every so
often, top up the hole."
--
Ian