Oak path

[oasispta]

Hi there guys, I've just acquired some oak (from arbtalk:-) to use as rings for a stepping stone style path. Any advice on how to treat it before putting them down on a mix of mud/grass/concrete path?

 

They'll be approx 2inches thick and roughly cut with the chainsaw as the rough cut will give a bit of natural grip :-)

 

Cheers

[woodyguy]

Oak is naturally rot resistant if you only use the heart wood. The sapwood rots quickly.

I'm not sure that 2 inch thick is any good at all. May well crack and split as they dry at this thickness. I'd make them at least 6 inches personally. Soaking them in wood preservative will help but better would be just to use the heart wood. They will get very slippery though whatever you do.

[agg221]

As above - sapwood will vanish to mush inside a year. Heartwood will last a good few years. 4"-6" long, and bed them on a few inches of crushed rubble/gravel which will help water drain away from underneath so they don't rot so quickly.

 

Alec

[David Humphries]

I layed these untreated oak ring steps down in an old garden of mine about 12 years ago.

 

They were about 3" thick and sat on sand and perforated plastic.

 

They were still there when I last looked about 6 years ago (not seen them since though, so have no idea how they have faired)

 

.

[delabodge]

if you drill a one inch hole in the centre and replace with a flexible sealant that reduces the splitting ,,,,(it allows movement and moisture release).

[oasispta]

Cheers all! David that's quite close to what I'm looking at, but I want it to be a bit more like the attached(to cover up a largely concrete path). Is there a particular wood preserve/treatment to use or soak the rings in before putting down.

 

I'm hoping to get similar to the following for effect, but it will take some doing :-/

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

if you drill a one inch hole in the centre and replace with a flexible sealant that reduces the splitting ,,,,(it allows movement and moisture release).

 

that is a gem of a tip:001_cool:

 

Cheers all! David that's quite close to what I'm looking at, but I want it to be a bit more like the attached(to cover up a largely concrete path). Is there a particular wood preserve/treatment to use or soak the rings in before putting down.

 

I'm hoping to get similar to the following for effect, but it will take some doing :-/

 

liking your style, was looking at doing something VERY similar to my tatty old patio this year!

[Gray git]

Anti fungal decking oil from most diy shops would be best as it gets absorbed well even by oak and should last a while,