FAQs when buying a timber garden building

What warranty do I receive with my building?

All new buildings are guaranteed for 12 months following the date of delivery, except for the roofing felt and if failure to treat the building within 3 months. The retailer cannot be held responsible for any storm damage caused to buildings by severe or adverse weather
conditions.

All tanalised buildings are guaranteed for 15 years following the date of delivery, with the exception of the roofing felt and failure to treat the building with exterior wood preservative within a reasonable time frame and then annually thereafter.

All warranty is subject to the terms and conditions of your order Guarantee.

Do I need to treat my building?

Simple answer - yes! All our buildings are factory treated (except tanalised buildings) and have been dipped in a water based preservative pre- treatment which will give a medium oak appearance. The preservative pre-treatment will not offer full timber protection and
will need to be recoated with a waterproofing treatment suitable for exterior timber within three months of installation and annually thereafter.

When treating your building you must ensure the timber is dry and remove any lichen with a stiff brush prior to application. Apply the treatment generously in an even coat, treatment can normally be applied by brush, roller or spray however refer to manufacturer’s instructions for information on how to apply your chosen treatment. For maximum protection, a second coat should be applied when the first coat is completely dry, again refer to manufacturer’s instructions for drying and recoat times.

When applying treatment, it is advisable to wear protective gloves and suitable respiratory equipment during application and you should always wash your hands and any exposed skin after completing your treatment.

Why are the tongue and groove cladding boards not in line?

All the panels have a start point for the boards, this means that panels that are made in 2 or more sections should line up. There is a chance it may run out over the full panel, as there is a +/- of 0.5mm in the machining tolerances. This will mean over 20 boards it could be up to 20mm out at the last board. However, this is rare, as the timber is run and cut a load at a time but can still happen.

When the panels are manufactured there are 3 main factors that must be considered prior to production; door size, where the windows are on the panel and to ensure there is a reasonable overhang on the bottom of the panel (see above).

Why is there a joint under my windows?

All standard windows have a butt joint at the bottom of the window to create a rebate so that the glass can sit in the recess, there is framing behind the joint to stop rain and daylight coming through the joint (a butt joint is a technique in which two
pieces of material are joined by simply placing their ends together without any special shaping).

Why are the tongue and groove cladding boards cupping/swelling/shrinking?

Timber is a natural product; therefore, it is subject to change. When the timber absorbs water and then dries out in extreme heat, this can result in the above happening. The best way of reducing & minimising this is to ensure your building is treated with a waterproofing timber treatment asap following installation (must be within 3 months) and annually thereafter. It is also essential that the building is well ventilated and not butted up to a wall or fence thus allowing a good ongoing maintenance plan.

Why has my door dropped?

If the base is not level it can put stress on the panels thus causing the panels to move, doors to drop or touch at the top or making contact with the side of the door rail, if the panel is not plum or twisted on the base it can cause the door to bow out at the top or bottom of the panel. Some movement may occur post-delivery, and this is beyond our control.

Why has my building developed knots cracks and splits?

Timber is a natural product therefore as it expands and contracts knots, splits and cracks may appear. This is a completely normal occurrence which you may fill with sealant and retreat with wood preservative. To mitigate the risk of your building experiencing these types of incidents, you must treat the building ASAP after delivery, and we recommend annually thereafter.

Why is my building leaking, why is there Condensation & Mould?

Condensation can often look like the building is leaking but this is not the case. Condensation is a natural occurrence that can happen with fluctuations in temperature. The garden building must be regularly aired especially in the winter months. You may add vents, open any opening windows and doors to keep the building well ventilated.

Why is my felt wrinkling?

The felt membrane is likely to wrinkle when exposed to change in humidity and temperature, this does not compromise the purpose of the felt and it allows for expansion and contraction during varying weather conditions.

Why is my Shed Discolouring?

Wind, rain, and sun all contribute to shed timbers becoming discoloured and dirty. Protecting your shed with oil-based treatment will reduce the amount of discolouring to your building.

Will driving rain penetrate my building?

Extreme weather conditions, unfortunately, may affect your timber building as the construction is built to withstand normal weather conditions. Driving rain and if positioned in exposed areas or both, may cause temporary water penetration.

Are tanalised buildings waterproof?

A tanalised building is not waterproof, even pressure treated wood will need protection as it is not waterproof; a weather-proofing topcoat or base layer preservative is recommended every 12 months to fully protect timber through the winter months. We recommend you treat your building with a good quality wood preservative / water repellent within the first month of installation and annually thereafter in accordance with the instructions of the preservative used.

Why does some of the wood look green?

As the pressure treatment begins to dry some of the tanalised solution comes to the surface of the timber. The copper in the Tanalith E chemical reacts with air which, is what causes the green appearance on the surface of some of the timber. Sometimes small crystals can form, this happens when sap in the wood undergoes pressure treatment, if you notice this or resin bubbles you can remove these with a hard bristle brush. The green appearance will fade over time and can be painted if you are unhappy with the appearance. The green colour slowly weathers to a warm, honey brown and in the long term becomes a silver grey

What does my 15-year guarantee cover on Tanalised buildings?

Tanalised E wood used for our buildings has a unique, highly developed preservative formulation to give a reliable and consistent protection against fungal decay and insect attack. Fungal decay is caused by a biological attack within the wood by a certain species of fungi. The fungus can lie dormant in the timber for years until the right conditions present themselves. The conditions needed are oxygen, moisture, and nutrients, with moisture being the critical component. Mould is not a type of fungal decay.