A modern wooden garden house constitutes both a fashionable and timeless solution. Both qualities are combined not only in the luxurious appearance, but also in the longevity of the wood. But how to keep the garden house in perfect condition so that it actually retains its exclusive appearance and serves us for years to come? How often should a terrace be painted? Do smaller items such as decking need the same treatment?
What is wood really?
To begin with, it is useful to understand the nature of the material we are working with. Wood is a polymeric material, which in practice means that it is “dense” and therefore durable. It is also a composite substance, i.e. it is not a homogeneous, compact material. These two characteristics are extremely important in terms of maintenance, as they determine the characteristics of the substances that will best protect the wood.
As a polymer, wood is resistant to rain and moisture because it absorbs water very slowly. What harms it is its drying. Wet wood slowly swells and, unless the temperature changes drastically after rain, it dries just as slowly, returning to its original form. However, if the eagerly awaited, scorching sun appears in the sky, the wood will quickly release the moisture, and the spaces that were filled with previously “swollen” fibres will, after rapid shrinkage, remain empty and cause the wood to crack.
Maintenance of a modern garden house
Fortunately, a properly factory-preserved garden house effectively prevents wood deterioration and ensures that the entire structure will be safe and remain in excellent condition for many years. The most important element is not so much the frequency as the impregnation itself. It must penetrate the wood and protect the surface at the same time. Both of these features protect the wood from moisture penetration, which causes damage not only through cracking of the material, but also through fungal growth.
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The most common methods of protecting wood are oil, varnish, and water-based coatings. The former penetrate the wood, strengthen it, allow for quick, selective corrections and will not crack or peel. Varnish and water-based coatings, on the other hand, protect the wood from the outside, but they cannot be corrected locally, they crack, peel and delaminate, and renovation is only possible after a thorough sanding of the entire surface.
Wood preservation with OSMO
As you can see, we really know wood and we do everything we can to ensure that the quality of the products we offer is as high as possible – starting with the material itself, up to its joining and maintenance. After years of experience and research, we’ve decided to use OSMO coatings. Made on the basis of natural vegetable oils and waxes, they protect the entire structure both inside and out. At the same time, they allow the wood to breathe, reinforcing its structure without losing its natural resilience, and provide excellent coverage even with a thin layer. Interestingly, OSMO smooths the surface of the wood (unlike varnishes, which raise the fibres of the wood), so your garden house is also protected against dirt rubbing in and easy to keep clean.
Maintenance of a modern Pinegard pergola
Each of the structures we offer is already protected with an OSMO coating. All wooden elements are painted already at the production stage, including drill holes, millings and any other nooks and crannies of the garden house – even those that cannot be seen after assembly. This way you will be able to enjoy your garden house, terrace, or pergola immediately after installation and will not have to worry about its appearance for years to come.
How often to paint?
In addition to protecting the wood itself, the thing to look out for when preserving it is the colour. Brown tones and natural colours will last the longest without any special treatment – you only need to refresh them a minimum of every three to a maximum of every eight years. However, for strongly covering colours such as fashionable anthracite or white you need to remember to perform extra maintenance on the south side – if you experience a hot, sunny summer, these treatments are worth doing every year.
