Frequently asked questions
Where can I obtain parts for my Cuprinol Fence Sprayer - the manual pump up device?
For replacement/spare parts please feel free to contact the Fence Sprayer manufacturer, their details are below.
Solo Sprayers Tel: 01702 297134
Where can I purchase spare parts for my power sprayer/Fence and Decking Power Sprayer and Power Pad?
Please enter Spare Parts in the search bar and follow link.
I have a can of Teak Oil and it is not expelling. What can I try?
If you have used the aerosol before with no problems you will need to clean the nozzle and retry. White spirit is a good choice to clean clogged nozzles. If this does not work then you can use a pin to dislodge any accumulated product.
What products can I use on my beehives that will be safe to the bees?
Due to EU legislation Cuprinol has changed the active ingredients which are used in its wood preservers. This has meant a change in formulations.The newer formulations have not been tested for use on beehives and as a result Cuprinol cannot recommend any of its wood preservers on beehives.
It has also been known for woodworm to attack beehives, therefore we do not recommend to use any products that contain insecticides (e.g. Cuprinol Woodworm Killer or Cuprinol 5 Star Complete Wood Treatment) as these are likely to be harmful to bees.
What can I use on my bird table?
The main issue is toxic risk if preservers are used to treat the feeding surface, small birds particularly susceptible. preservers
Cuprinol Garden Wood Preserver can be used on supports but not on table and is not for ground contact situations.
Leave table top untreated or use a woodstain (first pre-treat wood in vulnerable areas with Wood Preserver Clear but not table top)
What can I use to treat my bird avery?
Budgies, Parakeets, Parrots have a tendency to chew wood, and finches may peck wood when feeding. Therefore we would not recommend any preservers or eradicators are used.
Solvent based stains can only be used before birds are introduced into aviary once all fumes have disappeared. Water based stains or Timbercare (for sawn wood) are the best option.
What can I use to treat my dog kennel?
If the dog is a small breed, known to chew wood, or if puppies or nursing bitches are involved, we would not recommend you use Preservers or any product which will omit fumes, even in the short term.
For large well behaved dogs. Preservers are OK once dry and when fumes have fully evaporated.
If Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear (BP)/Cuprinol Trade Wood Preserver Clear (BP) is used it must be over coated on all exterior surfaces once it has fully dried. Alternatively Garden Wood Preserver can be used.
What can I use to Treat my rabbit hutch?
When treating hutches the main concern is not using any eradicators or preservers as the rabbits have a tendency to chew and knaw the wood. If the wood is composed of rough wood then Cuprinol Timbercare is recommended, if it is smooth then Garden Shades/Heritage Shades - both these are water based. We would only recommend treating the external surfaces.
What can I use to treat wood near a pond?
We do not recommend you use any of our products over the pond. Do not carry out treatment over or near water.
Some Cuprinol Preservers can be used providing wood structure is treated well away from water and allowed to dry and weather. The structure must be hosed down several times or it must have rained a few times for a minimum of 2 weeks before installation.
You can use Cuprinol Wood Preserver once this has been done.
Avoid Garden/Heritage Shades, Ducksback & Sprayable as they contain algaecides which can be harmful to aquatic environment.
I would like to use a preserver in a bat roost. Which product would be suitable?
Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear and Garden Wood Preserver may safely be used in bat roosts. However, treatment must be carefully planned and timed so that it is carried out whilst the bats are absent (between October and April for the Pipistrelle) and unlikely to return before the treatment is dry.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it illegal to kill, injure or handle a bat: also to destroy or obstruct access to any place a bat use for shelter/protection; or to disturb a bat. Therefore you must contact Bat Conservation Trust, English Nature, Scottish National Heritage, Countryside Council for Wales or National Park and Wildlife Services (Eire) before treatment undertaken.
I want to retain the 'natural colour' of my fence. Why can't I use Wood Preserver Clear?
We do make a product called Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear, but it is a preparatory product that needs to be painted, stained or varnished over. It is a penetrative treatment that prevents rot and decay, but because it contains no pigment it has no UV Filters, this has the effect of preventing the wood from greying. After a time the wood will develop a silvery/grey hue. You could use either the Cuprinol Garden Wood Preserver (however this is heavily pigmented) or Cuprinol Shed and Fence Protector and choose a colour that most resembles your fence.
Please can I have a copy of the instructions for the Fence Sprayer?
Cuprinol Fence Sprayer usage guide
Why are products not all available in Tester Pot Sizes?
Unfortunately the only tester pots we make in our Cuprinol Range are for our Garden Shades range. These colours include blues, greens yellows and are more decorative than the standard - more functional products like Timbercare and Ducksback.
The availability of a colour and size of a product is determined by available shelve space at store and popularity. We cannot unfortunately have all our products available in small tester pots; however larger stores will have the product a piece of wood and the colour chip on the front of the can is fairly accurate representation of what the colour will look like on the wood.
I would like to remove my decking stain, do you have a suitable product?
Cuprinol do not currently manufacture any stain removers. To aid removal of excess pigment, we would recommend scrubbing at the surface with a stiff, non-metallic bristle brush to break through the wax layer of the stain and then gently pressure/power wash. If however a chemical stripper is preferred, there is a company called Owatrol who manufacture a stain remover. This is called Owatrol PrepDeck Stripper. For more information on this product please feel free to visit their website.
We do make a reviver called Decking Restorer - this will not remove coatings, but it contains light acids which are designed to lighten weathered wood.
My current fence has been treated with a dark green stain, can I use Garden Shades Country Cream over the top?
The final colour that you achieve is dependent upon the condition of the wood, previous coating and how long it has been left to weather.
If the original dark wood stain has just recently applied you will struggle to cover the product, simply because the pigment is too strong and the product would still be active and there is no requirement to use anything over the top. If the original stain has been on at least a year, and has weathered then you would be able to use another colour over the top; however you would get more favourable results by using a darker colour rather than a lighter one.
We would recommend you get a tester pot and try it in a innocuous area - test it for adhesion and covering abilities.
The benefit of using garden shades it that it is highly pigmented and so the finish you receive will be very rich.
I have used your Garden Furniture Restorer and it has not worked, why is this?
This product works by lightly bleaching the surface of hardwoods such as teak and iroko. If the product has failed to work and the wood is considerably weathered a further application may be required. The product needs to be applied liberally. Overspreading the gel will result in a less favourable performance.
It needs to be allowed to stand and rubbed off until a lightening effect occurs - if this does not happen there maybe a requirement to leave it on for a little longer.
Using a mild abrasive pad to clean the wood creates additional friction to whiten the wood - if it is just washed off the performance may be reduced.
It is predominately used on hard rather than softwood. If the composition of the wood is soft it will be less effective. If these instructions are followed this should give a good result.
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