Getting the most from your shed – part 2

Now that you have put a good wood preservative on the underneath of the shed floor this will help prevent rot. I mention a good wood preservative because nowadays the wood preservatives come with all sorts of goodies to fight rot and decay such as a water repellant and protection against fungal and algae.

Whilst you are protecting your shed I strongly recommend that you give the shed a good coat of preservative. If you have bought yourself a nice shiplap shed then turn this upside down before you treat it. This way all the treatment will run into the grooves for maximum protection. There is no need to treat the inside of the shed.

Once all this is done you can assemble your shed, but before you do so perhaps you should consider this tip.

We recommend a concrete base for the shed. You should ensure that the base is almost the same size as the foot print of the shed. This does 2 things. One is to encourage water run off away from the shed meaning your shed base wont be sitting in pools of water, the second is that if the base is much larger when it rains, the rain will bounce off the ground and soak the shed. The corners of the shed tend to get soaked and you will find in many sheds that show sign of rot that it is these corners that start to rot first.

Part 3 next

Today is the product launch of the ‘7' x 7' (approx) Overlap Pressure Treated Apex Shed’. Introductary lower price for the sheds ends 31st March.

This 7' x 7' Apex Overlap Garden Shed is great for those that want loads of storage space but without taking up too much garden space.

The shed comes as standard with one opening window. The shed is also supplied pressure treated which means your shed will last and last. All timber for the shed is from sustainable sources, so that you can feel good about buying this shed.  The shed is made from Siberian timber which is inherently slow grown which means tighter timber and more stable and stronger than home grown timber used on other overlap garden sheds on the market.  
The shed has another special feature such as joinery criss-cross opening windows that is quality finished and included in this fantastically low price.  The shed is plenty big enough for a ride-on mower and other essential garden tools. The sheds double doors provide for easy entry and are properly ledged.

The shed is supplied flat packed for self assembly and all fittings and felt are included in the price with clear easy to follow instructions.

What is Shiplap and Overlap?

Shiplap is a term used to describe a type of wooden board used commonly in the construction of sheds and outbuilding. The profile of each board partially overlaps that of the board next to it creating a channel that gives shadow line effects, provides excellent weather protection and allows for dimensional movement.

Useful for its strength and its ability to form a relatively tight seal when lapped, shiplap is usually used as a type of siding for buildings that do not require extensive maintenance and must withstand cold and aggressive climates.
Small doors and shutters such as those found in barns and sheds are often constructed of shiplap. Shiplap is also used indoors for the rough or rustic look that it creates when used as panelling or a covering for a wall or ceiling. Shiplap is often used to describe any rebated siding material that overlaps in a similar fashion.

Overlap refers to a more traditional method of finishing a shed or outdoor building. It is a simple yet aesthetically pleasing finishing. The overlap technique comprises of wooden boards. Each board has square cut edges and is ‘overlapped’ onto the adjacent edge of the next board. The boards are then nailed to vertical bearers. This is an economical method of manufacture as the boards need minimal preparation. The technique is simpler way to manufacture a sidewall in comparison to shiplap. Two major advantages of Overlap is the cost effective side as well as the aesthetically pleasing rustic look.

Please check our range of Sheds for both finishes.

Here at Elbec we offer a massive range of pre-treated sheds, but for some non pre-treated sheds there is a huge importance of Wood Treatments.

All measures that are taken to ensure a long life of wooden products come under the definition of ‘Wood Treatments’ (wood preservation). There are a number of different wood treatments and processes that can extend the life of wood, timber, wood structures or engineered wood. These generally increase the durability and resistance from being destroyed by insects or fungus.

Two common treatments that we offer at Elbec are ‘Dip Treated’ and ‘Pressure Treated’.

Dip Treatment consists of simply immersing the wood in a bath of creosote or other preservative for a few seconds or minutes. Usually the dipping process is useful in the treatment of Sheds and Fences were the products are exposed the outdoors environments.

The Pressure Treatment processes are the most permanent method around today in preserving wood life. Pressure processes are those in which the treatment is carried out in closed cylinders with applied pressure or vacuum. These Pressure Treatment processes have a number of advantages over the non-pressure methods. In most cases, a deeper and more uniform penetration and a Higher absorption of preservative is achieved. These treatment methods are used to protect structural timbers and most wooden products throughout the world today.

Any pre-treated sheds will endeavor to offer a maximum life guarantee but if the shed is not pre-treated we advise you must treat it yourself!

You may not know this but here at Elbec we offer a fantastic Gate range. They can be used as side or garden gate, as well as in a package with one of our fence ranges. We offer all types of gates from tall to short. Most of our gates are universal opening meaning they are easy to apply to any circumstances thus offer multi functional use. Most of our gates offer lap panel edge or some sort of design making them aesthetically pleasing. Most of our gates come mortise and tenon joined in a gate's structure, this provides the gate with extra strength and durability which is needed for years of use. Some gates even provide bolts as an added security feature but most come with a security feature as standard due to their height.

As mentioned before any gate within our range would look great coupled with a correct fencing choice, preferably either the same panel colour or style. Plus all our gates come with a 15 Year Guarantee against rot for added peace of mind.

One formidable selle within the range is the ‘Lap Gate’ by Grange. This gate is heavy duty and made from specially selected softwoods. It can be used as either a side entry gate or a front gate.

The Lap Gate will not only provide you with a Grande entrance to your garden but will also provide security. This gate has a rounded top rail which is designed to act as a watershed. The gates timber is FSC certified and is supplied dip treated and in a golden brown finish which will blend in and enhance any garden.

One of the best features of wooden sheds is their natural look and the ability to blend in well within a garden environment. To fully maintain your wooden shed they do need some care. Despite the strength of wood, over time if left untreated and neglected wood can rot, split and warp. So to preserver your shed it is advised to apply often treatments.  Wood sheds need regular maintenance, such as keeping plant matter and debris from piling up beside the walls and on the roof, and occasional rot-proofing with preservatives. Sheds are sometimes also re-stained or varnished at times for aesthetic reasons.  Stains and preservatives can be applied to wood sheds to prevent damage to the wood caused by exposure to rain, damp ground, sunlight, harsh climatic conditions, fungal attack and wood-boring insects.  If a colored preservative oil or stain is used, a wooden shed can either be made to stand out as a feature within a garden, or to blend in with its surroundings. One advantage of using wooden sheds is that it is easier to modify wooden sheds (i.e., than metal sheds) by adding windows, doors, shelving, exterior trim etc, because wood can be easily cut and drilled using commonly-available tools. Some homeowners may prefer wooden sheds because wood is a renewable resource.

Windy weather across most of England this week has damaged a lot of Fencing and Garden Buildings including Garden Furniture. Fencing provides privacy and shading in garden areas, it also an attractive feature of a garden especially when the addition of decorative Trellis.
Fencing has different uses across the world. There are also cultural differences with regards to the use of Fences around properties. For instance, it is common in European countries to put a Fence around the entire border of one's property, including the front garden, with a gate to obtain access to the property and highten security. However, in many parts of North America, Fences are commonly used only on the borders along the back Gardens of properties that back onto each other. The front Gardens in such neighborhoods are often open to the street as it is seemed to be rude to have a Fenced front Garden.
Budget or economy privacy Fencing is often made of white woods such as pine, spruce, or fir. And premium Fencing is made with rot-resistant wood, usually cedar, and is generally limited to six or eight feet in height in North America without a building permit.
A well built, attractive Fence commonly adds value to a home and property. As most home buyers have pets and/or children and needs Fencing to secure pets and allow children to play safely.

Today I will make some convincing points why Log Cabins are a must buy.
A Log Cabin is a house built from logs therefore a very rigid and a sturdy structure.
It is a fairly simple type of Log Building but each individual Log Cabin provides distinctive features and characteristics which make Log Cabins unique.

A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "Log Cabin" and "Log House."
"Log cabin" generally denotes a simple one or two story structure, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less architecturally sophisticated.
A "Log Cabin" was usually constructed with round rather than hewn, or hand-worked, logs, and often it was the first generation of home buildings purpose built for shelter.

Log Cabins today provide a more entertaining use. Modern day Log Cabins are used for such things as Hot Tub housing, Gymnasiums, Study’s or even to provide a quiet area in your garden. A Log Cabin is a diverse Garden Building which has multiple purposes which can be used for everyone’s desires.

Our ranges of Log Cabins come in all shapes and sizes, each individual for you specific need. All our Log Cabins have windows and doors; some provide patio decks and individual rooms which enables multiple uses within your Log Cabin. Most of our bigger Log Cabins within our range provide lockable door for extra security and a choice of felt roof tiles or shingles.

So your thinking of getting the Shire Jersey apex shed, you see that you can either have it dipped treated or pressure treated. But what are these shed treatments and which shed treatment (if any) is the best shed treatment?

Dipped Treatment – Dipped treatment gives a familiar reddish finish to your shed. This shed treatment is excellent value for money and is quicker than other shed treatments. It will stop your shed from rotting and protect your shed from fungal decay giving you a reasonable life span on your shed timber. For an extended shed life span elbec recommends you re-treat the shed between every 1 and 4 years depending on the shed treatment used.

Pressure Treatment – This is a highly effective shed treatment where the treatment is forced under vacuum pressure into the shed wood grain structure. This results in the treatment becoming an integral part of your shed and gives it a delightful natural wood colour, with a green tinge caused by the reaction with the copper in the shed timber. This shed treatment means that once pressure treated, you will not have to treat your shed again and is our most effective shed treatment available on our sheds.

Morning folks, Shiplap Sally here, sitting at my desk gazing out the window I began to wonder, if I was going to have a Shire shed in the snow which shed which Shire shed would I pick? Our Shire shed range is jam packed full of high quality sheds to suit every taste and when it’s snowy, there’s no better shed range you’ll want in your garden than a Shire shed.

The Shire Durham shed with pressure treatment is just £329 this Christmas, with its tongue and groove shed wall construction and sturdy rounded shed framework, this really is a shed you would want to see in the snow. The Shire Durham has been one of our most popular sheds this year because it’s an excellent quality shed at a fantastic shed price.

The Shire Jersey apex shed comes with pressure treatment like the Durham shed but on the Jersey shed this treatment is free of charge, saving you over £200! If you’re looking for a large shed that’s going to be able to cope with all that snow falling on the shed roof, then the Shire Jersey Apex shed is for you.

The Shire Arran Apex Shed is a square shed that’ll hold its own in the cold conditions, with its tongue and groove floor stopping the cold coming up through the shed floor and the tongue and groove walls stopping the cold coming in through the shed walls. This really is, like all our Shire Garden sheds, a shed of excellent quality and a shed that’s incredible value for money.

So to conclude all our Shire sheds will not only look fantastic in the snow, but also have shed features that make them ready to stand up to the big chill! So why not grab yourself a shire shed from elbec this Christmas, we sell quality sheds at amazing shed prices direct to you!