WHY PAINT YER SHED?! 

Most timber buildings require some form of protection. Depending on what type of timber cladding your Shed has, will determine the level of protection it requires. More specifically there are 2 botanical categories.

Different Types of Wood

• Hardwood: – wood from deciduous trees that grow slower than Softwood trees and tend to have a higher density. Hardwood is generally understood as the superior timber for construction and can cost 4 times more than the alternatives. Hardwood may not require treatment and depending on what type (Teak, Oak, Mahogany, etc) is known to withstand the elements without rotting.
• Softwood: – wood from gymnosperm trees such as conifers. Softwood is the source of about 80% of the world’s production of timber and when used externally, does require treatment. There are two grades of Softwood; Redwood and Whitewood.

What Wood does Gillies and Mackay use? 

We use a Redwood called Scandinavian Pine. Due to the climate they are raised in they typically grow slower than that of their Whitewood alternative. The reason you want them to grow slower is so the grain is closer, making it more dense and less susceptible to cupping/warping.

It is often said by customers “do you have to have them (sheds) painted?” and what they are meaning is do you have to have them in a colour. Yes, there needs to be some form of pigment within the treatment to protect the timber from UV damage, it’s a little like sunscreen.

What Wood Protection is best? 

The Wood Protection we use is Sadolin. We use both the Superdec range and the Quick Dry range; they are both water-borne, and highly durable for cladding and exterior joinery. Sadolin erodes naturally by weathering, thus ensuring the coating remains flexible and resists cracking, peeling and flaking.

Superdec is an Opaque finish; a block of colour with little to no transparency, as pictured below.

Quick Dry is a translucent finish; allowing the grain of the timber to be seen, as pictured below.

How does Wood Protection work? 

We apply the first coat of Sadolin within the workshop and the second finishing coat must be applied within 3 weeks of assembly of the build. This allows time for the building to settle and contract. Because Redwood is a softwood it is imperative that you re-treat your building as instructed on the tin, roughly every 3 – 5 years.

It is also very important to treat the doors and opening windows internally as well as externally ensuring particular attention is given to the top and bottom end grains. We find this limits the movement the doors can have when exposed periodically to the elements.

Sheds are meant to be loved and what better way to show them you care than painting them beautiful.