Best way to protect oak in contact with patio

[rogerzilla]

This is to support a GWR bench, where the two cast iron ends are screwed to wooden battens about 500mm x 100mm, since otherwise they would lack stability and leave rust stains.

I used pine last time and painted it with Sadolin.  This has lasted 8 years outside and is still reasonably sound.  As I'm refurbishing all the wood and the slats themselves are oiled oak, I have bought two more pieces of oak to use as feet, replacing the pine.

Should I paint with Sadolin, or just use teak oil to match the slats?  Will oiled oak be ok in contact with the ground?

[robgul]

I have a couple of items of wooden furniture that stay outside all year on paved areas . . . one has 4 legs in contact with the ground and the other has two battens.

I've raised them off the surface by about 1cm so that any surface water flows under the timber - I used the plastic disc things that are used to fix headboards to a bed and stop the bed bashing against the wall - a simple screw through a washer into the ends of the legs/either end of each batten.

Used these - https://www.amazon.co.uk/PAIR-Headboard-bolts-Washer-fixings/dp/B01H2SYSIM  discarding the bolts and used screws/washers.

The legs being off the ground really isn't noticeable, and the wood stays dry.

[Tod28]

Plus, best not to use iron/steel fasteners with oak in damp conditions.  Brass or bronze. Oak releases acetic acid (mainly) when damp.

[Wobbly John]

Agreed. Oak blackens around iron fixtures.

On my wooden furniture that is out all year, I screwed some rubber feet off an old computer case. Only adds about a cm to the height.

[rogerzilla]

It certainly buggered the "stainless" coach bolts.  They were very rusty and unscrewing the nuts took some effort.