If you’ve fallen in love with a gorgeous timber garage, you might be ready to jump right in and place your order. But before you do, make sure you know how much maintenance the building needs. The last thing you want is a maintenance schedule that’s too much commitment for the time and abilities you have.
So let’s find out what’s involved!
Are all timber garages the same?
Timber garages can be split into two categories: single-skinned and layered.
A single-skinned garage consists of a frame with a single layer of timber cladding on top, a single layer of roofing timber and an outer roofing material.
A layered or tiered garage has walls made of several layers of timber and other materials. These layers are attached to the framing and topped off with an outer roofing material.
The differences between these two building types are significant, and each type has different maintenance requirements.
How do I maintain a single-skinned garage?
Single-skinned garages are susceptible to water ingress. Because the single layer of cladding is permeable to water, the most important aspect of maintaining a single-skinned garage is paint.
What should I use to paint a timber garage?
We recommend Sadolin for all our buildings, particularly our single-skinned sheds. Sadolin is a water-based paint that provides a preservative coat for your building. Why is this important?
The quality that makes a timber garage permeable to water also allows your building to breathe. A breathable building is a good thing – it adapts and responds to temperature and moisture changes. Timber buildings won’t shatter in extreme cold or warp in extreme heat.
But if you coat your building with a non-permeable layer you will lose this protective quality. Because Sadolin is water-based, your building stays breathable and can adapt to changing weather conditions effectively.
However, this responsive quality can also allow water through the timber walls when the weather is extremely wet. Water causes rot and mould, damaging your building over time. Sadolin contains preservative chemicals that protect your building from mould, rot and insect damage.
So whether you choose Sadolin or a different brand, make sure you use a water-based microporous paint which protects your building from mould, rot and insects.
This post is part of our Timber Garage Buyer's Guide
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How often do I have to paint my wooden garage?
Like so many other questions, my answer starts with “It depends.”
As a guide, your single-skinned garage will need fully repainted every 3-5 years. However, if your building is exposed to harsh weather or coastal conditions, you may have to do this more often.
Regular repainting extends the life of your building and protects it from water ingress. If you don’t repaint your garage you risk rot, insect damage and water damage.
What other maintenance does a single-skinned garage need?
Regular inspections and maintenance are essential in a single-skinned garage. Any signs of rot or excessive water ingress should be addressed ASAP. Replace rotted timbers and ventilate the building regularly to prevent mould.
If your garage has a felt or rubber membrane roof, inspect this regularly for any tears, holes or leaks.
Because a single-skinned garage is effectively a large shed, you can follow our aftercare advice to get the best from your building.
Remember the limitations of a single-skinned building – these garages are not designed to be completely watertight. Because of this, they need regular maintenance.
How do I maintain a Gillies & Mackay Garage
We’re not aware of any other garage manufacturers in Scotland building tiered garages with multiple layers. If you need a completely watertight wooden garage, you need a Gillies & Mackay Garage.
Do I have to paint my Gillies & Mackay Garage?
Because the outer layer of a Gillies & Mackay Garage isn’t the only thing keeping water out of the building, you have more finishing options.
You can choose a Sadolin colour – either an opaque Superdec colour or a semi-translucent Quickdry colour – or you can choose a natural wood finish with Osmo UV Protection Oil. This prevents weathering (where the wood loses its golden colour and becomes silvery-grey) without concealing the beauty of the timber.
However, the paint or oil coating is not necessary to maintain a watertight building. The specification does that. Whether you choose paint, oil, or leave your cladding untreated, the building will still stay dry inside.
Because the finish is purely aesthetic, repainting is necessary only every 5-7 years with Sadolin or every 3-5 years with Osmo. And remember – your garage will stay watertight even without paint or oil. However, these coatings will protect your cladding from the UV damage that causes weathering.
What other maintenance does a Gillies & Mackay Garage need?
With maintenance-free steel box profile roofing and a specification that’s guaranteed to keep water on the outside of the building where it belongs, all you need to do is keep your Garage painted if you choose to prevent weathering.
Our Garage Aftercare Guide has all the information needed, but because water ingress isn’t a problem, these buildings don’t need much maintenance. You can spend the extra time in your gorgeous Garage, getting up to whatever you like in there!
How much maintenance does a timber garage need?
When you choose a wooden garage make sure that you’re aware of the maintenance requirements and any limitations the building may have. That way you know exactly what you’re signing up for, and can make an informed choice about the best building for you.
And if you’d like to check out our watertight timber garages, our Show Area in Errol has two beauties for you to inspect. Come and see us and have a good look around!
