We all use sheds for different reasons; some sheds are used for household storage, others are used for storing garden items and some are even converted into extra living space. When winter is approaching it is important you evaluate everything inside and outside your shed to ensure it is weatherproof. It is easy for us all to forget about the shed/garden building until spring comes around again, we all think “it will be ok for a few months” but really, you need to take good care to keep it in good condition because after all, nobody wants a damp shed, do they? Read below for our tips on how to waterproof a shed.
TIP: The weight of snow on a wooden shed roof can cause damage, such as making cracks in the timber which then lead to leaks. Therefore we advise you to remove snow from the roof to prevent this happening after heavy downfalls of rain.
Before the poor weather arrives, you should check the base of your garden building. Ideally the water should drain away from your foundations. If the water does not drain correctly you need to look at your foundations, they may not be level. You need to make sure foundations of your shed are corrected with a spirit level.
Tongue and groove sheds are generally better at resisting water damage than the overlap construction. The overlap style has a more open texture, therefore soaks up more water. Tongue and groove sheds are made up of planed timber so the wood does not absorb as much moisture.
Treatment
There are two types of wood treatment to choose from, dip treatment and pressure treatment. Dip treated sheds need to be treated annually, an oil based treatment paint will help protect against rot and water damage. You will not need to treat pressure treated sheds; however a protective coat might be useful during poor weather just for extra care.
TIP: Avoid hanging items on the outside of your shed, in high winds these items are likely to cause damage to the shed and therefore cause further problems, e.g. cracks/splits in timber.
Discover more about the treatment process for our wooden sheds by watching our video below