To keep your Xorbars equipment looking its best and performing safely, we recommend carrying out the following maintenance checks twice a year, ideally at the beginning of spring and again at the beginning of autumn.
Regular maintenance is a normal part of owning any outdoor timber structure and will help maximise the appearance, safety and lifespan of your Xorbars equipment.
Powder-Coated Steel Bars
The bars are powder-coated for long-lasting protection. However, like any painted metal surface, they can become scratched or chipped through normal use.
Any damaged areas should be touched up as soon as possible using:
Colour: Moss Green
RAL Code: 6005
Finish: Full Gloss (Cellulose 90% / Gloss)
Suitable touch-up paint is widely available online.
Routine Safety Inspection
During your routine maintenance check, please inspect the equipment and confirm that:
- All bars remain firm and secure.
- There is no excessive movement in any part of the structure.
- All bolts and fixings remain tight.
- There are no signs of corrosion on any fixings.
- Protective plastic bolt covers remain fitted.
Do not overtighten fixings, as excessive tightening can damage the timber.
Timber Movement
Timber is a natural material and will continue to expand, contract and season throughout its life.
During periods of warm, dry weather, it is completely normal for timber to develop surface cracks (known as checks). These can sometimes appear quickly and may look alarming, but they are a natural characteristic of structural timber and, in most cases, do not affect the strength or performance of the equipment.
Because these natural checks often develop through the centre of the timber, they can sometimes appear close to pull-up bar fixings. This does not mean the bolts or fixings have caused the timber to split.
Applying Barrettine Wood Preserver (Pine) into any exposed checks will help protect the timber from moisture ingress and provide additional protection against weathering.
Timber Protection
All Xorbars posts are pressure treated for external use.
To maximise the appearance and lifespan of the timber, we recommend applying a quality exterior wood preservative, decking oil or protective stain twice a year.
A suitable product is:
Barrettine Wood Preserver (Pine)
Although any quality exterior timber treatment designed for outdoor use may be used.
Fixing Design and Timber Movement
Xorbars equipment is designed to provide a balance between structural strength, long-term durability and a clean appearance.
During installation, we use high-strength coach screws as the standard fixing method. This provides a strong mechanical connection while maintaining the clean appearance of the equipment without visible bolts, washers and nuts on both sides of the timber.
Through-bolting every fixing point is not normally required and would introduce additional visible hardware that can affect the appearance of the finished installation.
As timber naturally seasons, expands and contracts, some fixings may occasionally benefit from adjustment or upgrading over time. This is a normal characteristic of outdoor timber structures.
For installations where additional mechanical clamping is preferred, selected fixing points can be upgraded to through-bolted connections.
Maintaining the Fixings
If any bar or bracket develops minor movement due to natural timber movement, the fixing can normally be restored by upgrading the fixing as part of routine maintenance.
Option 1 – Longer Coach Screw Upgrade
Free replacement fixings are available from Xorbars during the first 2 years after installation where required due to normal timber movement.
Remove the existing fixing.
Drill a 7mm pilot hole using the existing hole as a guide.
Fit a 10mm x 100mm zinc plated coach screw with washer.
Tighten until secure without overtightening.
This will usually allow the fixing to engage fresh timber and restore the connection.
Ensure the pilot hole is drilled to the full length of the new fixing before installation.
Option 2 – Additional Through-Bolt Upgrade
Free replacement fixings are available from Xorbars during the first 2 years after installation where required due to normal timber movement.
For additional mechanical clamping force, selected fixing points can be upgraded to through-bolted connections.
Remove the existing fixing.
Drill an 11mm hole completely through the timber.
Insert an M10 bolt through the post.
Fit a washer and nut to the opposite side.
Tighten until secure, taking care not to overtighten.
Through-bolting provides a permanent mechanical connection with increased resistance to normal seasonal timber movement.
It is not usually necessary to replace every fixing. For example, on a pull-up bar secured with four fixings, adding a through-bolt at one fixing position on each end is normally sufficient to provide additional clamping support while maintaining the appearance of the equipment.
Postsaver Sleeves
If your installation includes Postsaver sleeves, inspect them during your routine maintenance checks.
Postsaver sleeves are designed to provide a protective barrier around the base of the timber post. As timber naturally expands, contracts and seasons, the sleeve may occasionally require minor adjustment to maintain a close seal against the post.
Check that:
- The sleeve remains snug against the timber.
- The top edge remains in contact with the post.
- Leaves, soil or debris are not collecting around the top of the sleeve.
- Water is not being trapped around the upper edge.
If the top edge of the sleeve has lifted away from the timber, the following maintenance options can be used:
Option 1 – Re-seal Using Heat (Preferred Method)
The sleeve can sometimes be re-formed back against the timber using gentle heat.
Before carrying out this procedure:
- Ensure the sleeve and timber are clean and dry.
- Use a heat gun to gently warm the upper section of the sleeve.
- Once softened, carefully press the sleeve back against the timber.
- Allow the sleeve to cool and reform around the post.
Care should be taken not to overheat the sleeve or damage the timber.
Option 2 – Flexible Sealant Support (For Larger Gaps)
In some cases, the sleeve may spring away from the timber and will not remain flush after heat treatment.
A flexible external sealant can be used to help hold the sleeve edge back against the timber while allowing for normal seasonal movement.
Suitable products include:
- Everbuild Weather Mate (Clear)
- CT1
- Soudal Fix ALL
- Eco-Stick Strong Stuff
Before application:
- Ensure the timber and sleeve are clean and dry.
- Apply a small amount of flexible sealant behind the lifted section of sleeve.
- Press the sleeve firmly back against the timber until it sits flush.
- Allow the sealant to cure fully according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Only a small amount of sealant is required. The purpose is to support the sleeve edge and maintain contact with the timber.
A correctly maintained Postsaver sleeve will continue to provide protection against moisture ingress and help maximise the lifespan of the timber post.
Free Replacement Fixings Support (First 2 Years)
Outdoor timber structures naturally move, shrink and season over time.
During the first 2 years following installation, Xorbars provides free replacement fixing support where normal seasonal timber movement means a fixing upgrade is required.
Replacement fixings supplied include:
- Longer 100mm coach screws
- Through-bolts – 140mm
- Nuts
- Washers
- Plastic bolt covers
These components are supplied free of charge to assist customers with routine maintenance associated with the natural movement and seasoning of timber.
The original Xorbars installation fixing method remains suitable for normal use.
Any maintenance upgrades are intended to restore fixing performance where natural timber movement has occurred over time.
Maintenance items such as Postsaver sleeve adjustments and external sealants are considered general maintenance materials and are widely available from builders’ merchants and DIY suppliers.
Carrying Out Maintenance
Routine maintenance checks can be carried out by the equipment owner or another competent person.
Simple maintenance tasks, such as:
- Applying timber treatment
- Touching up paint
- Checking fixings
- Carrying out minor Postsaver sleeve maintenance
can normally be completed by following the guidance in this document.
Where replacement fixings are supplied by Xorbars as part of the Free Replacement Fixings Support (First 2 Years), these are provided to assist the customer or a competent person in carrying out routine maintenance.
If you are unsure about any maintenance procedure, Xorbars can provide guidance on maintenance procedures and replacement fixing options where required.
Important Safety Notice
Equipment should not be used if any component is damaged, loose, or requires attention.
If you are unsure about the condition of any part of the equipment or how to carry out a maintenance procedure, please seek guidance before continuing to use the equipment.
What Next
Pleas let us know how many fixings you require and what type.