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Timber Preserver
Timber Protection

Timber Preserver

The everyday copper preservative for above-ground exterior timber. A lighter oil that absorbs into the wood, protects against decay and borers, and weathers to a natural brown.

  • Above ground
  • Soaks into the wood
  • Brush or roller
  • Two flood coats
  • Weathers to brown
  • No water-based paint

Where to get it

Find a stockist
Poison schedule
Schedule 5 — CAUTION (per the APVMA label)
Australian Made certified Australian made in Cheltenham, Victoria — since 1988

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Directions for use

Preparing the timber, then applying — as per the approved label

Before you start: if the timber is structural or load-bearing — veranda posts, bearers, joists, rafters — get a qualified professional to decide whether it can be treated or needs replacing. Preservative stops decay spreading; it can't restore lost strength.

Before you brush

  1. DIG Remove decayed timber first For remedial treatment it's essential to remove all decayed timber from the surface before applying Timber Preserver — a preservative protects sound wood, it doesn't rebuild it.
  2. CLEAN Clean weathered timber On decks and weatherboards, use a wood cleaner to remove the grey from the surface before treating.
Dark green now, brown laterTimber Preserver goes on dark green and browns off with weathering — quickly on most timbers, more slowly on light timbers like pine. If you can't have any green, use Clear Wood Preservative instead.

Applying the preservative

Always read the label before use.

  1. BRUSH Flood on two coats Apply liberally by brush or roller to the areas needing protection — especially end grain and exposed joints. Best results come from two flood coats.
  2. TIME Allow absorption between coats In cooler conditions the oil takes longer to absorb, so allow more time between coats.
  3. COAT Overcoat with oil-based paint only Water-based paints are not recommended over Timber Preserver; oil-based paints can work in some situations. Or leave it to weather naturally.
Application rate

Per coat, on prepared timber.

RateCoverage
1 litre per coat 6–8 m²

Two flood coats. Protection period about 2–3 years. Clean brushes with mineral turpentine.

CAUTION · As per the approved label

Safety & hazards

Signal word, restraints and first aid — from the approved label

As per the approved label. Always read the label before use.

Schedule 5 — CAUTION (per the APVMA label)

May irritate the eyes and skin.

May irritate the eyes and skin. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. Wash hands after use.

First aid

If poisoning occurs, contact a Doctor or Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26). If swallowed, do NOT induce vomiting — give a glass of water.

Full safety directions and first aid are on the product label and the Safety Data Sheet.

Handling & environment

Preschem handling guidance — general advice, not label text. The approved label and the Safety Data Sheet take precedence.

Disposal

Triple- or preferably pressure-rinse containers before disposal. Dispose of rinsings in a disposal pit set up for the purpose, clear of waterways, vegetation and tree roots.

Where it goes

Above-ground exterior timber, especially the parts that trap moisture

For hardwood and softwood in above-ground situations — particularly end grain, joints and surfaces with restricted ventilation, where decay starts. Recommended especially for deck subframes.

Deck joists & bearers The subframe under the boards — the label's headline recommendation. Protect the structure before you lay the deck.
Posts, sleepers & retaining walls Hardwood landscape and structural timber above ground.
Decking & weatherboards Exposed exterior surfaces; a natural-look preservative that weathers to brown.
Pergolas & exposed joints End grain and connection points where boards meet bearers — the classic decay spots.
Wharfs & bridges Heavy-duty above-ground structural timber exposed to weather and damp.
Where borer is a risk Also helps protect against some species of woodborer.

The everyday copper preservative

Why it works

Timber Preserver carries copper naphthenate — a long-established wood preservative — in a lighter oil that soaks into the timber rather than sitting on the surface. Straightforward decay and borer protection for general above-ground work.

Decay & borer protection

Protects above-ground timber against the fungal decay that exposure and damp cause, and helps guard against some species of woodborer.

Soaks in, general-purpose

The lighter carrier absorbs into the wood — the everyday choice for decks, fences and landscape timber, at a step down in cost from the heavy-duty option.

A natural weathered look

Goes on dark green and weathers to a subtle brown — a more natural look than paint, and it can be left uncoated.

Technical data

Specifications
Rate, coverage & reapplication
6–8 m²/L per coat, two flood coats. Protection period about 2–3 years. Clean up with mineral turpentine.
Poison schedule
Schedule 5 — CAUTION (per the APVMA label). May irritate the eyes and skin.
Storage & shelf life
Store in the closed original container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Do not store for prolonged periods in direct sunlight.

Common questions
How is this different from Heavy Oil Preservative?
Same copper protection — the difference is the carrier. Timber Preserver uses a lighter oil that absorbs into the timber, which makes it the everyday, general-purpose choice. Heavy Oil uses a heavier oil that stays on the surface as a film, so it's more waterproof and longer-lasting, and aimed at trade and structural work.
Will it change the timber's colour?
Yes. It goes on dark green and weathers to a subtle brown — quickly on most timbers, more slowly on light timbers like pine. If you can't have any green at all, Clear Wood Preservative is the zinc-based alternative.
Can I paint over it?
Only with oil-based paints, and even then only in some situations. Water-based paints are not recommended over Timber Preserver. Many people leave it to weather naturally.
How often should I reapply it?
Protection lasts about 2–3 years on above-ground timber. Deck subframes and other hard-to-reach structure are worth treating well before you need to get back to them.
Related

You might also need

Clear Wood Preservative

Clear Wood Preservative

The clear alternative — no green tint. Zinc-based, and the go-to for borer in sealed or visible timber.

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Heavy Oil Preservative

Heavy Oil Preservative

The heavy-duty version — same copper protection in a heavier oil that stays on the surface. More waterproof and longer-lasting, for trade and structural work.

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In-Ground Paste

In-Ground Paste

For the groundline — high-strength copper paste where timber meets the soil.

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Australian made in Cheltenham, Victoria since 1988 — founded by two CSIRO timber scientists. The whole story →