Kitchen Garden Forum

I have some maintenance to do on my sheds at the allotment...when this darn rain finally stops

I have to firstly put new felt on both roofs then I want to paint the sheds with a wood preservative.

The last time they were painted was around three years ago... am I expecting too much from wood preservative paint to last longer than the three years?
I can't remember what it 'said on the tin'

Dear Weed, i'm afraid it's like a lot of things in this modern world, they just don't last like they used to.

I think three years is about all you can expect, despite what it says on the tin.

It does save a lot on the prep work if you can do them that often.

Thats my feelings on the matter anyway.

We put preservative on a new fence about nine months ago and as a result of the wet summer, and now this wet winter, its condition had already started to deteriorate, so it looks like this Spring it will need doing again. Does continual soaking from rain speed up the deterioration, more than hot sunshine baking the wood? Didn't they continually soak the timbers of the Mary Rose after it had been lifted to try and keep the timberwork in good condition? I'm confused about what water actuall does to woodwork in terms of maintaining its condition.

Creosote is not brilliant for the environment but still available to trade customers, creosote substitute is not bad, I tend to use it carefully, and it is not too expensive but will fade in two to three years.... cuprinol also make some good products ........... is the wood sawn or planed?

Compo

Both the sheds are planed wood.. I used a water based coloured product last time and it doesn't seem to penetrate into the wood like the old creosote.

In fact I did paint another shed last Autumn and it has already faded and really needs doing again...I applied a good coat too but it resembled coloured water... perhaps thats all it is when alls said and done

WEED. My late father always gave me the job of creosoting the allotment shed, [Jankers] we always mixed old engine oil with the creosote, looked a bit on the dark side, but the shed lasted until he decided to build a new one. shallot man

shallotman. Good job we didn't have so many arsonists around in those days. I should think that a mixture of creosote and engine oil on wood would make a swift conflagration !

You could bite the bullet and go for Sadolin, expensive but if the wood is in good condition Sadolin will give excess of five years if two coats are applied, my garage workshop at home is treated with Sadolin and is now over five years since last touching it and not looking as if it needs anything doing yet!!

Compo

My dear SH....Well I remember the creosote and engine oil trick, thank you for reminding me..

For various reasons, not forgetting the one Primrose highlighted, I think I will refrain from going down that particular route.. I will have a look at Compo's suggestion....thank you

I can recommend Sadolin too. I use it on my greenhouse and fencing at home. Expensive as Compo says but in the long run worth it. Easier to use too - not so watery.
Beryl.

Yes your right Beryl, one coat worked thinly into the wood work will dry in a couple of hours, you can then work the second coat on a bit more liberally, but whatever you do make sure you get the one in the mustard yellow tin not the green tin as that is water based and quick drying, the yellow tin is oil based and that is the dog's doodah's as they say.

Compo....I sincerely hope that the 'mustard yellow' is just the colour of the tin and NOT the colour of the paint...

I am not sure that my eyesight or the allotment neighbours could stand that!

Like so many things in life today 'you buy cheap and you buy twice'

creosote and old engine oil remember it well perfick job

Just to confuse you all there is now an Advanced One Coat Sadolin in an organgy/red tin.

Used it on the greenhouse last year and still as good as new.

Beryl.

I use cresote substitute and old engine oil. Lasts for years...