Our 3-Tier Workshop is a one-of-a-kind building. With its completely watertight construction and 30-year guarantee, it’s the timber building you can always rely on. But how much maintenance does a 3-Tier Workshop need?
Whether you’re searching for a creative studio, a private retreat, or a practical place to work, the 3-Tier Workshop is designed to deliver.
By understanding how to care for it properly, you’ll know if the 3-Tier Workshop is the right choice for your needs. Plus, if you decide to buy, you’ll be able to keep it looking and performing its best for decades to come.
In this blog post, I’ll explain why painting and ventilating your 3-Tier Workshop are so important, and give you some expert tips for a happy timber building.
Do I have to paint my 3-Tier Workshop?
Our 3-Tier Workshop was designed to be extremely durable and long-lasting. The cladding is either pressure-treated redwood weatherboard or Radiata Pine ThermoWood, both of which are treated to protect the timber from rot, insects and mould.
The workshop’s 3-Tier specification is what makes this building completely watertight. This layered system includes pressure-treated or heat-treated cladding, a breather cavity, a damp-proof membrane, OSB, and pressure-treated C24-Graded framing. Together, the layered timber and breather cavity prevent water ingress in your 3-Tier Workshop.
Due to its superior construction, the 3-Tier Workshop doesn’t require painting for protection – the building is always safeguarded from rot, insects and moisture without any additional treatment.
However, over time, cosmetic changes will occur. Sunlight gradually weathers timber, changing its appearance. If you’d like to keep your workshop looking brand new, paint will be your best friend. By regularly painting the timber, you limit the UV exposure, slowing down the weathering process and keeping your 3-Tier Workshop looking fresh.
How often should I paint my 3-Tier Workshop?
The repainting schedule for your 3-Tier Workshop depends on the cladding and finish you’ve chosen:
Redwood Weatherboard Painted in Sadolin
If you’ve chosen to have your 3-Tier Workshop painted in a Sadolin Superdec or Sadolin Quick Dry colour, it will get its first coat of paint applied in our workshop. When it’s delivered, it may look a little patchy, but don’t worry, this is completely normal.
We always recommend adding a second coat of paint, around three weeks after delivery. The reason for waiting is to allow the timber to settle. As your 3-Tier Workshop gets used to its new home, the timber will shift slightly, and you might notice small gaps in the paintwork. The second coat fills these, evens out the finish and covers any scuffs or marks that might have occurred during delivery. This leaves your workshop with a smooth and vibrant finish.
Following this, we recommend repainting every five to seven years, depending on how much sunlight your building receives.
Redwood Weatherboard Coated in OSMO Oil
For a more natural finish, you can choose to have your 3-Tier Workshop coated in clear OSMO Oil. Similarly to the Sadolin, we recommend you give your workshop a second coat after three weeks for the same reasons. You won’t see much of a difference in the aesthetic, though, as the oil is clear, but it makes a difference for the longevity of the timber.
Left untreated, redwood naturally weathers to a silver-grey colour and may eventually develop splits. To keep your 3-Tier Workshop well-protected and looking like new, it’s best to reapply OSMO Oil every three to five years. You’ll find that panels that face the sun will weather quicker than those in the shade, and will need to be painted more often.
Radiata ThermoWood Cladding Coated in OSMO Oil
Workshops clad in Radiata ThermoWood will also get their first coat of OSMO Oil in the workshop. When your 3-Tier Workshop is delivered, the timber will be at its darkest shade and will gradually lighten over time. How often you recoat the timber varies depending on your personal preference and how much sunlight the building gets. Some owners prefer to let the timber lighten significantly, while others like to maintain the darker colour by recoating regularly.
We recommend recoating your 3-Tier Workshop in OSMO Oil to maintain your desired tone of the timber. But, if you find the cladding lightens more than you’d like, you can always darken it with tinted OSMO Oil – we love shade Light Red Cedar.
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Do I have to ventilate my 3-Tier Workshop?
It’s important to ventilate your Workshop to keep it in the best condition. Our 3-Tier Workshop comes with one uPVC Horizontal Opening Window, allowing you to easily ventilate your space.
The uPVC windows come fitted with an Openlock, which allows you to open the window slightly while the window stays locked. This means you can ventilate the space securely. It’s best to leave the Openlock on if you’re away on holiday or not planning to use the workshop for a while, to provide airflow. In addition, the workshop is fitted with a louvre vent to further support ventilation.
It’s also a good idea to ventilate your 3-Tier Workshop actively from time to time. On a dry day, open up the windows and doors for a few hours to let the air circulate through the building.
If you plan to store damp items regularly, it’s a good idea to paint the interior OSB walls in Sadolin Superdec to protect them from the moisture. For one-off occasions, such as bringing in outdoor furniture or spills, simply make sure to dry everything off. This will prevent moisture build-up inside your 3-Tier Workshop and keep it in great condition.
What other maintenance does a 3-Tier Workshop need?
Regular painting and plenty of ventilation will go a long way in keeping your 3-Tier Workshop well-maintained, but there are a few more things you can keep an eye on to extend the life of your building:
Roofing
Your 3-Tier Workshop comes with a steel box profile roof. This is incredibly durable and comes with a 20-year manufacturer’s guarantee. While the roof doesn’t require any routine maintenance, it’s good practice to clear away any debris, such as fallen leaves or branches, and trim back overhanging trees. Doing this will prevent any unnecessary wear and preserve the lifetime of the roofing.
Guttering
Adding guttering to your 3-Tier Workshop helps protect the timber cladding, as water is directed away from the wood. Ideally, your guttering should flow into a water butt or a perimeter soakaway, preventing water from collecting at the base of the building. By regularly cleaning out your gutters, you can ensure proper drainage.
Moisture
It’s also worth keeping an eye on any grass, bushes or flowers growing around your workshop. Plants that grow too close to the cladding can trap moisture against the timber, damaging it over time. Trimming back any nearby plants helps your 3-Tier workshop breathe and stay dry and healthy.
How much maintenance does a 3-Tier Workshop need?
Now you know how to care for your 3-Tier Workshop like a pro. A little routine 3-Tier Workshop maintenance – from giving it that all-important second coat of paint to keeping it ventilated – will keep it looking its best and performing for years to come.
For more in-depth advice on caring for your building, take a look at our 3-Tier Workshop Aftercare Guide.
If this is your introduction to the 3-Tier Workshop, and it sounds like the ideal fit for you, why not book a Consultation with our Sales Team? They’d love to hear about your ideas and help you create your dream space.
