It could be that you have opted for a wooden shed to feature in your garden. After all, they are traditional, rustic and great to look at. You can even paint them in any colour you want to fit in with the decoration you have in mind to make it more picturesque. Wooden sheds are known for their imperfections but that is actually part of their charm. They have been around since forever, and they don’t see to be decreasing in popularity. Because of the material of the shed, it can require some maintenance, but will make a perfect summer garden project if you are that way inclined.
Below we have put some handy tips together as to how you can maintain them.
Choose your Finish
The great thing about wooden sheds is that they can be finished exactly as you would like them to be. If you are looking for the ore natural effect, you may want to go with a clear wood preserver. This means that you can still see the original wood, but it will have a protective layer over it. Another option is for you to have wood oil that has been created specifically for outdoor use. If you have decking in your back garden already, you could potentially use this on your shed too depending on what it is. Make sure you read the label for confirmation though, before applying. The reality is that your shed will probably already have been treated before it’s even arrived –Shed Store have these sheds for example that have a 10 year guarantee against rot, so you can rest assured that your shed will be protected if you don’t want to do it yourself.
But, giving it an extra protective finish is a good opportunity for you to create the standard that you mean to go on.
Are you Adventurous?
The attraction of a wooden shed in a lot of cases is that it looks natural and some people want to keep it that way. In that case, we would suggest you opt for one of the more natural browns in terms of wood preservatives. They dry incredibly quickly and aren’t particularly troublesome in terms of their application. You can literally just paint it on like you would with a standard tin of paint – so you don’t need to be a DIY boffin to be able to do it.
If you want your wooden shed to stand out a little bit, you may opt for something a bit more adventurous! You can customise it with flower boxes and add some nice plants which will make it more picturesque. You can also go for a brightly coloured wood preservative. There are some great suppliers out there that will offer a massive variety of colours such as greens, blues, to bright hot pinks. By choosing a brightly coloured paint, your wooden shed could then be the focal point of your garden and be a great topic of conversation.
How Often Does It Need to be Treated?
Ideally you should book a couple of days every year where you treat and maintain your shed. To make it enjoyable for you – you can choose a couple of days in the summer where you think it will be warm and make a fun day of it. Why not treat yourself to a barbeque, or some fun outdoor activities when you are finished?The majority of wood finishes are known for drying in the space of a couple of hours and become weatherproof – but it’s better to be safe than sorry. What you don’t want to be doing is look up at the sky, see a big black cloud, and then rushing to get the job done.
What Should you do Before You Treat it?
Before you go ahead with your annual treatment there is some preparation for you to do, don’t jump right ahead and just get on with it without doing the necessary groundwork. The first thing that you need to do is make sure that you wipe down each of the wooden panels. This will allow you to get rid of any cobwebs, dust or anything else that could get caught up in the treatment. You will also want to have a look and see if there are any loose panels that could cause you any problems – or if there are any nails or screws in the way that perhaps need tightened up. It’s also a good idea to check to see if there are any damp patches, as this could in turn end up rotting the boards if these are left that way too long. If you do find this, then try to prevent the situation by applying some wood hardener. Once this has dried out, the wood should be harder – at which point it will be fine to apply any treatment you wish.
It’s important that you don’t forget about the windows on your shed either. The pieces of wood holding them in place should be in good condition. If not, it may be an option for you to replace them. To do this you would normally need to cut some wood or applying putty. This may depend on how the windows have been installed originally. Although you won’t need to add any treatment to the roof, it’s worth checking to see how it’s weathered over that period of time. Something that could be repairable at first – could end up a massive problem if you choose to leave it.
Taking Care of your Shed Will Make It Last Longer
The good thing about wooden sheds is that they can last pretty much a lifetime if they are taken care of properly. If you do the groundwork and make sure you keep a couple of days free in your calendar annually for general maintenance – then you should be able to make one solid investment that will stand the test of time.
