Batten Down the Hatches

Batten down the hatches, winter is coming!

As winter steadily approaches, it’s all well & good to make sure that your heating is turned on and the extra blanket comes out, but it’s also certainly worth just having a think about how you’re going to make sure that your shed, summerhouse or wooden garden building is suitably prepared for the weather that accompanies the festive period.

All it takes is a watchful eye & a little bit of maintenance to make sure that, having invested in a shed, you get the most out of it. So here are a few tips to make sure you do just that!

Make sure your shed is suitably waterproof

The first, and most delicate, step is one that here at Chigwell Sheds we can guarantee taking care of for you – making sure that your shed is correctly installed in the first place. Our skilled installation team, headed by our very own director, Neville Wright, is very experienced & will not leave an installation until you are happy that the very best job possible has been completed. So, whilst you can rest assured in the knowledge that your shed has been erected to the highest standard, it is important not to neglect the next few steps which can really maximise your shed’s lifespan:

1. All our Titan range of sheds are pressure-treated and made from the highest grade of wood from sustainable forests and have a 10 year guarantee. All our workshops and toolsheds are dip treated and warrant a two year guarantee.
2. However, it is still important to actively maintain your shed by applying an effective timber treatment. We recommend Aquashield to be a fantastic option & we always offer the option of applying a coating as we install the shed. However, if you’re feeling a bit more DIY, Aquashield is available for purchase from any good DIY store. It is really simple to apply, either by brush or by spray & does a fantastic job at keeping the damp at bay & water ingress.
3. Make sure you have cut back any weeds particularly ivy, that might have sprung up around or behind your shed – if these get out of control, they can easily put pressure on the wood & cause problems further down the line.
4. Re-felting your shed roof is another step that can make a huge difference – felt can be purchased from any good DIY store, just remember to make sure that once you’ve got all the correct tools you stay safe by securing your ladder. Ideally, if you have a willing assistant, maintain best practice by having them foot the ladder and passing up any necessary tools.
5. Once you’ve ensured that your shed is structurally sound, why not give it a fresh coat of paint turning it from a purely practical structure to a stylish garden feature. Check out our article which gives the basics on painting your shed & some ideas on popular colours to make sure your neighbours notice the difference!

Finally, sometimes once you’ve carried out your maintenance checks the realist has to step in, admit that your shed is simply too far gone & that it may be time for a new one. Here at Chigwell Sheds we have a vast range of high-quality sheds to replace that old battered one – from our range of practical tool sheds, to bike sheds, to our garden studios – we’re a small, dedicated & personable team determined to help you find a shed that fits your specific requirements. All you need to do is give us a call & we’ll be more than happy to chat through any questions or thoughts.

Check out our customer gallery for some of our recent projects, we’re currently able to offer installation within 4-6 weeks of ordering.