Summer is around the corner – well almost we hope – and it’s time to think about the maintenance of your timber garden building.
We are often asked what maintenance is necessary on a timber building and the answer is very little! But here are a few tips to help you get the best out of your building.
Timber
It’s better to treat the timber cladding during a dry spell, as the boards will have dried out and will be able to absorb the preservative better.
The high quality timber we use is pressure treated to protect it from rot and painted with 2 coats of water proofer to reduce water penetrating the timber. If you live in an exposed location you may need to reapply a coat of Log Cabin waterproofer every 2 years or so, in other locations 4-5 years.
Do you have green algae on the exterior walls? This can be treated with a product such as Algon Organic Path and Decking Cleaner. Simply brush it on and after a week or two the green growth will start to disappear. It’s best to do this before you think about treating or painting the wood.
Staining and Painting
If you wish to use a preservative stain for a coloured finish, Barrettine Wood Protective Treatment or Cuprinol Garden Shades are excellent choices, available in a range of colours.
For joinery timber windows and doors, we use Sikkens Cetol, a semi-gloss wood stain two coat system. We find this an excellent durable product and well worth the money.
If your building is already painted it may need rubbing down before repainting. Flaking paint must be removed before applying a fresh coat of a product such as Sadolin Superdec.
Don’t forget – all the above and more tips are featured on the Support section of our website - Looking after your timber building.
Other Tips
If you have any specific questions on maintenance of your Shields Buildings garden building please just give us a call, we will be happy to help.