How to protect your external wood for the winter
It’s getting dark in the evenings and the weathers getting cold, wet and gloomy. It’s about time to start protecting your external timber to prevent it from getting damaged by the weather.
Your wood’s number one concern is water and mould, the later being very tricky to treat once it has taken hold. This is why it’s important to prepare the timber as early in the year as possible and to then keep your eye on it throughout the cold season.
Whatever treatment you use for your timber it must be an external waterproof one. Some of these treatments have built in preservative to prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria, but if yours does not you should get a preservative treatment for your timber to enable it to last longer in harsh weather.
Preparation
First of all, before doing anything else you must clean your wood thoroughly using soap and water and then let it dry. You can use a sponge, cloth or a soft brush to get off any residue.
Wood treatments will only work efficiently is the wood is clean and dry before application and should be liberally applied ensuring that it soaks in to all of the cracks and crevices.
Prevention
Things like leaves and dirt can build up around the base of your external timber and start to cause a build up of damp and mould. Sweep these away regularly to avoid build up and also check any gaps in the timber for any residue or deposits that could cause damage over time.
Remember to keep an eye out for potential problems areas and anything that could potentially damage your wood over a long time.