Photo: Monstera

How often should you treat a shed?

every single year How often should you treat your shed? Ideally, you want to apply a fresh coat of whatever you used originally every single year. wait until you get a couple of days of nice warm weather when no rain is forecast.

sheds.co.uk - How to Maintain a Wooden Shed

Is it hard to get financing for a Barndominium?

One of the challenges of building a barndominium is finding a lender who is willing to approve a loan for construction. The lending requirements...

Last updated Oct 26, 2018

Can a family of 4 live in a tiny house?

Tiny homes aren't just for one or two people. These days, more and more tiny house companies are designing spaces with four or more occupants in...

Last updated May 29, 2018

Promotion

When you first buy a new shed, it looks superb. Once you have built and sited it in your garden, you will rightly be proud of the way it looks. You’ll spend some time organising the interior and it will then be a permanent part of your garden. Unless, of course, you fail to treat it. A wooden shed provides great value and ample storage space. Yet you can make it last even longer by treating it regularly to ensure it can withstand whatever the great British weather can throw at it. (And let’s be honest, that could mean virtually anything!)

What finish?

Wooden sheds can be painted, stained or varnished to your liking. Some manufacturers sell clear wood preserver (Cuprinol, for example) which means you can see the original wood quite clearly through the protective layer. This is good if you want to stay with something natural. You could also use a wood oil that has been specifically formulated to be used outdoors. Check the label to ensure you have a suitable product. If you have already treated some decking, you could happily use the same thing on your shed to make sure they have a similar look. Many sheds have already been coated in a layer of wood preservative before they are delivered to you. However, you should still take this early opportunity to treat your new shed and start as you mean to go on.

Something standard… or something more adventurous?

Are you a gardener who loves nothing more than the look of a natural wood shed? Then choose one of the many natural brown shades of wood preservative on the market today. They dry fast and are incredibly easy to apply – just paint them on like you would with a regular tin of paint. On the other hand, maybe you want to try something a bit different. If you’d like your shed to be a focal point, perhaps finished with a window box packed full of bright blooms, why not choose a coloured wood preservative instead? Cuprinol has one of the biggest ranges of colours you can choose from, providing everything from blues to greens and even a hot pink among others. The Adley 8' x 8' Cornwall Summer House pictured is a great example of how you can use Cuprinol paints to create a fantastic end result. The great thing about these colours is that they’re designed to bring out the best in the wood. If you bought a wooden shed because you like the look of the grain, you will still be able to see it even when you’ve applied a couple of coats of coloured wood preservative.

How often should you treat your shed?

What happens when your gutters are full?

When your gutters become clogged, water will be unable to properly divert away from your home. Instead, the water will spill over the side of your...

Last updated Nov 12, 2020

What do people buy the most in the world?

1. Clothing items. The first item that has occupied the most sold product globally is clothing items. According to Statista, the apparel market...

Last updated Jul 21, 2021

Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

Ideally, you want to apply a fresh coat of whatever you used originally every single year. wait until you get a couple of days of nice warm weather when no rain is forecast. While many wood finishes are designed to dry and be weatherproof within an hour or two, it’s so much easier to wait until you get a period of dry weather. There’s nothing worse than rushing to complete the last side of the shed while eyeing the big black cloud that’s appeared on the horizon.

Things to remember before you tackle the annual treatment

So… you’re ready to re-apply whatever treatment you gave your shed last year. Before you do so, there’s some preparation to do. Firstly, take a close look at your shed. Brush off every wooden section and panel to get rid of dust, cobwebs and anything else you don’t want to get caught up in the wood treatment. Check for loose panels and use additional screws or nails to fasten them tight again. Look for any damp areas as they may harbour rotten boards. If so, get the wood hardener out and treat those first. Wait for it to dry – it should harden, making the wood strong again – and then use your wood treatment. Check the condition of any shed windows as well. Are the pieces of wood holding them in place still in good condition? If not, can you replace them? This might involve cutting new pieces of wood, or using putty if it’s better to do so. A lot will depend on how the windows were installed in the first place. Check the roof as well; while you won’t need to paint or stain this, it may need replacing if the felt has weathered a little too well in the past year.

Taking good care of your shed

By maintaining your shed regularly each year, you’ll notice it lasts a lot longer than those belonging to neighbours who haven’t bothered going through the above routine. A little maintenance also means you can treat yourself to a more expensive shed, in the knowledge you’ll get the very best from it for years to come. Whatever you store in yours, make sure it’s in a safe and solid place.