Garden Shed Timber Preservatives

There are many different types of timber preservatives out there on the market, and choosing the correct one for you garden shed is the key to your garden shed lasting for years to come.  Below are just the main types of presevatives available;

1, Water Based
These preservatives are only good enough for fences as they have anti-fungal properies.  It does not act as a water proof preservative.

2, Spirit Based
These are excellent preservatives to use on any outdoor garden building, such as your garden, greenhouse, summerhouses etc.  Due to their spirit based formula they keep rain water off the timber and you will see the water run straight off.  You will need to re-treat your building once every year, ideally before winter.

3, Oil Based
These are also excellent preservatives which can be used on any outdoor garden furniture or garden building.  Just like the spirit based preservatives, water will run off.  The down side to this oil based preservative is it does fully dry, and when you handle the frames at a later date you may get some colour on you hands or clothes.

4, Cuprinol Paints
These paints called 'Heritage Garden Shades' made by cuprinol are very good and make you garden shed or summerhouse stand out from your neighbours or friends.  It transforms them from just a garden shed to more of a focal point in any garden.  You still need a base coat of the spirit based preservative then 2-3 coats of Heritage Garden Shades on top.  It will give an opaque look to the building and be a solid bold colour.  You don't need to treat this as often as other preservatives, however a wipe down and perhaps a touch up here and there before winter will always do the building good.