Our Mark I summerhouse specification was retired in October 2023.
While it is no longer possible to buy a Mark I summerhouse, to ensure that yours lasts a lifetime, it needs some care and attention.
This guide provides everything you need to get the very best from your investment.
Your summerhouse is made of timber that shrinks, swells and moves in response to moisture and temperature changes. This movement is perfectly normal in a single-skinned building. You should expect movement to occur in response to extremely wet weather conditions and after significant temperature changes.
These changes are usually small, but if your summerhouse is unused for several months at a time you will notice more significant changes to the building. While timber movement cannot be eliminated in a single-skinned building, there are various measures you can take to minimise its impact.
To maximise the life, health and usage of your summerhouse follow these steps...
Painting Your Summerhouse
Sadolin is only available from registered stockists. Our closest supplier is Bannerman’s Colour Studio in either Perth or Dundee.
You can also buy Sadolin online at Decorating Warehouse. A full list of retail stockists is available here.
The name of the colour you chose is on your order form and final invoice.
Fully repaint your summerhouse every 3-5 years. This will vary according to your location and how much bad weather your summerhouse deals with. A coastal summerhouse regularly battered by 100mph winds will need a new coat of paint sooner than a summerhouse sheltered in a garden.
If you see any fading or signs of wear and tear to the finish, it’s time for a coat of paint.
Fully repaint your summerhouse every 3-5 years. This will vary according to your location and how much bad weather your summerhouse deals with. A coastal summerhouse regularly battered by 100mph winds will need a new coat of paint sooner than a summerhouse sheltered in a garden.
If you see any fading or signs of wear and tear to the finish, it’s time for a coat of paint.
This is your individual preference - you can leave the inside of your summerhouse unpainted.
If you want to paint the inside of your summerhouse, we recommend Sadolin diluted with water at a ratio of 2:1.
DO NOT use varnish, as this traps moisture and causes the timber to blacken.
Moisture and temperature changes cause movement in timber buildings. To prevent your door from sticking or shifting, make sure that the entire door is painted - front, back, and all around the edges.
Opening windows should also be completely coated with paint to prevent timber movement
If your doors have moved so much that you can’t close or open them, there is a straightforward carpentry method to rectify them.
We offer a service to do this at our hourly rate. Alternatively, any reputable joiner will be able to carry out the work. We do not advise adjusting the doors if there's movement or sticking as it does more damage than good.
Moisture Prevention
Your summerhouse is single-skinned, with only one layer of timber cladding between the outside and inside of the building.
Because of this, small amounts of moisture can penetrate the walls during excessively wet weather. In a well-painted building, this happens very slowly. But in sustained wet weather moisture can build up inside your summerhouse. This leads to mould and can damage the building and its contents.
The easiest way to prevent this is to ventilate your summerhouse regularly.
There’s no special equipment required to ventilate your summerhouse - just open the windows and doors and get some air into the building.
On a dry day, open up the windows and doors and leave these open for a couple of hours.
Ventilation is essential during the colder, wetter months when it seems difficult to find any dry days. Keep an eye out for opportunities to ventilate your summerhouse as this is when it needs it most.
You can also add moisture traps to your summerhouse when the weather is extremely wet. These are small containers with chemicals inside that collect moisture in the air.
If your summerhouse has electricity you can also use a powered dehumidifier.
Roofs & Guttering
Your summerhouse will receive plenty of rainwater washes, but if you prefer you can wash your summerhouse roof with soap and water.
If you opt for guttering on your summerhouse, make sure to check it at least twice a year and clean it if necessary. More regular checks may be necessary if there are overhanging trees above the building. Avoid blockages such as leaves or moss to ensure that water is moved away from your summerhouse effectively.
Summary
FAQs
Dust and mould can accumulate if the building is crammed full with no spaces for air to circulate. Using shelves and storage containers ensures that there is airflow throughout the inside of the building.
Any wet items in your summerhouse bring moisture into the building. If this moisture can’t escape it can condense on the walls, roof or other items. Protect your summerhouse contents by wiping off excess moisture from wet items before storing them inside.
Perishable items like paper and fabric don’t do well in a single-skinned summerhouse. They’ll soak up any moisture in the air and are hugely susceptible to mould.
If you have any of these items in your summerhouse, store them in plastic boxes with lids, and check them regularly for any signs of mould or moisture.
Deterring splashback onto your summerhouse walls makes a dramatic difference to the lifespan of your building. A 6” gravel soakaway all around the base of the building ensures that water runs away from the building instead of collecting against the wall panels.
Adding gutters to your building will also prevent splashback. Pay close attention to any other factors that may encourage water to accumulate around specific areas of the building, as these areas will be susceptible to rot and damage.
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