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Useful Tips on Wooden Structures
Wooden structures complement almost any garden. Soft- and hardwoods are available in a range of colors, weights, sizes, and prices. They can be stained, treated, or painted to alter their color and blend in with their environment.
Wooden Structures: Repairing Sheds
A shed can last for many years. It should not need a great deal of maintenance, but routine jobs, such as treating the wood and painting it occasionally, will considerably extend a shed’s life. Repairing or replacing the roof and replacing glass may also be necessary.
Wooden Structures: Repairing Roofs
- Re-roofing: Do this in warm weather when the roofing felt is unlikely to crack. If you must climb onto the roof, kneel on a board to spread your weight.
- Roofing felt: Select a thick grade of roofing felt. Make sure that it is sufficiently flexible for easy handling.
- Old nails: Remove old nails from the roof with a claw hammer before replacing the felt. If any nails break, hammer them in before securing the new felt with rustproof, galvanized nails.
- Wood: Strip off the roofing felt, and make sure the wood underneath is sound.
Wooden Structures: Eliminating Air Pockets
Place the first sheet of felt so that it extends over the eaves by about 1 in (2.5 cm) and the ends overlap the fascia boards by about 1 in (2.5 cm). Press down with a strip of wood to smooth out air pockets in the felt.
Wooden Structures: Securing a Corner
Where the eaves and fascia boards meet, tuck the felt into a triangle and fold it toward the fascia board, securing it in place with galvanized nails. Tuck the corner in to ensure that it does not collect rainwater.
Wooden Structures: Repairing Wood Siding
Wood siding has a tendency to splinter, crack, and rot. If a small area is affected, it is a relatively simple process to replace the wood. Once it has been replaced, be sure to protect it from moisture by filling gaps with putty, then treating the wood with wood preservatives.
Wooden Structures: Using Wood
- Cut ends: Treat freshly cut ends before using the wood.
- Drying: After treating wood, allow it to dry before use.
- Damaged boards: If more than one area of a board is damaged, replace the whole board.
- Siding: Use pressure-treated wood to extend the life of the siding. This wood resists insects and fungi and is ideal for damp locations.
- Wood putty: For filling gaps, select wood putty that matches the color of the wood.
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