Edging for fence

DH says you can get lengths of lightweight metal channel that will fit over the top and can be fixed by screws through the side into the wood.

A local agricultural merchant might be able to help.

Silicone sealant?

How about putting a hand rail along the whole length of the fence fixed to the posts? This could be positioned on the inside of the fence rather than along the top. Might be a bit costly but a one time fix and better than a broken bone.

I looked on B&Q's page to see whether their L-shaped pine mouldings go up to 40mm. They don't - but the maker of their 20mm ones (Richard Burbidge Pine Angle Moulding (W)20mm )is Richard Burbidge, so I searched for Richard Burbidge Pine Angle Moulding (W)40mm. RB has them up to 42 mm wide. www.richardburbidge.com/mouldings/decorative/angles .

It is still wood, but perhaps it would be a smaller area to revarnish if it cracks. Is OH sure that there isn't a product which will protect the wood without cracking? I would have thought that there is something.

Could you fix a rope along near the top edge of the fence to hold?

Would yacht varnish work? My ex used to cover everything in yacht varnish [which is now turning into a horrible yellowy colour] but I wouldn't have thought it would crack.

There is also this

If it is wide enough.

I like the idea of the handrail.

My point with the hand rail is that if you are going to hang on to something when your feet are on ice you need to be able to rely on it. It needs to take your weight comfortably. You don't want to get a nasty stain or splinter from it and you could probably do without maintaining it every year.

If it's icy it's likely to be winter so why not wear thick gloves to avoid the splinters, or am I being stupid missing some important point?

Sadolin make a paint for external wood, we have used it for our ceder clad house. It is NOT the same as shed paint, but has a plastic feel to it. It comes in many colours, including the darker shades.

I think you would find that painted on the fence it would seal the wood. It also has a weathering guarantee, 7 years I think.

You would have to look up stockists on the Internet. They also will send sample pots.

Hope you find something that works. X

It's called Sadolin Superdec. x

Wear gloves?

If you do decide to go down the handrail route Mishap, and either of you are disabled you may be able to get help from the council. Even if you have to pay for it they are very used to putting them in. It's certainly worth asking.

Thanks for all these suggestions - I will follow them up.

We do also hang onto the rail in the summer when we are exhausted from the uphill climb, so gloves are not the whole answer.
The GC also climb on it and get splinters!

you can but plastic trunking form B n Q etc the kind that they sink electrical wires in your walls, its like a square u shape, or if you have any plastic firms nearby who sell facia boards and stuff like that, then they would have something....also theres that Grey soft foam piping stuff...the stuff you lag pipes with outside, it has a long slit in it that you open up...it is grey don't think you can paint it as it would crack....the rope idea sounds good.

I've looked up the Sadolin Superdec and it says "Do not use on decking"! Not that I want to, but it seems a bit of a misleading name!

Thanks for all the ideas!

What about a strip of cloth-reinforced wide PVC tape? It comes in black or brown, which would blend.

I think Dec. in this case stands for decorating. It gives a smooth finish, thus eliminating splinters, it would be very slippy on decking.

X

Duck tape; when I was first divorced my cousin gave me some saying 'you'll need this'. Most things in my life are held together with duck tape....I reckon I will be one day, too. There's an American version advertised at the moment which is even stronger #asifthatispossible Think you'd need a lot of it, though!

I was wondering if you could buy a length of polypipe, and cut right the way along it, then pop it all along the fence. It comes in different widths.

What about decking handrail along the top

www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Deck-Handrail-Modern-1800mm/p/189583