As colder weather approaches people tend to spend less time in their gardens, and more time snuggled up indoors. Here are some tips and advice for the winter on how to make sure your garden building is prepared for this time of year. Before the winter weather sets in, there are a number of simple steps you can take to ensure your building can still be used throughout the season. And see that it keeps in the best condition possible, ready for the spring.
Your garden building will need routine maintenance and equipping to withstand the elements. This will ensure it remains usable, even in cold weather.
Weatherproofing and Maintenance
Winter is the enemy to outdoor structures. Outdoor buildings are prone to dampness and if made of wood, too much moisture can cause it to rot. That is why it is so essential to weatherproof your building, to help combat rainy weather and keep damp at bay.
The last thing you want is any leaks. Ensure roofs and windows and doors are well sealed and there are no gaps anywhere which could let the rain in. Check the condition of roof coverings like felt and shingles for any damage, and repair or replace as necessary.
Keep areas around your building clear from anything that could cause pools of water to collect. Sweep up fallen leaves to prevent damp spots forming, and cut back any overhanging branches that could cause damage to the exterior walls or roof if thrashed about by the wind. The installation of gutters and a drainage system will help control water and direct it away. Plus, collecting rainwater in a butt will allow you to reuse it at a later date to water plants in the drier months.
Find out more about How to Waterproof your Shed.
Paints, Treatments and Preservatives
Being outside through all weathers, it is inevitable that a garden building will deteriorate over time. We recommend treating the wood with a good quality water repellent or preservative every year to help maintain it and make it last longer. The more protection you can give your garden building, the more effectively you can keep the weather out and control the damp.
Garden buildings such as log cabins generally come untreated, so you will need to give the wood an annual coating of treatment to keep it in the best condition. Treatments can come in a variety of colours enabling you to brighten up the garden on a wintery day, or paint the inside with a hue that adds warmth.
Buildings that are made with pressure treated timber will already have some defence against rot and insect infestation, but protection should be topped up with a water repellent. Most Dunster House garden sheds are pressure treated as standard and come with a 10 year guarantee, so it will last season after season. Pressure treatment is a lengthy process where preservative is forced deep into the wood and moisture removed.
Year-Round Use
A garden building such as a log cabin is a fantastic way to add extra living space to your home. You may see it as a place for relaxing out in your garden only during the warmer months, but a summerhouse doesn’t have to be just for summer. It can be repurposed for other uses in the winter, so you can use your retreat all year round.
How about creating your own home cinema room. There’s nothing better on a winter’s evening than settling down for a movie night. When it’s too cold outside, it’s the perfect indoor activity you can do at home, and is fun for all the family.
If you want extra warmth inside to make it more comfortable for use throughout the whole year, consider an insulated building or kitting it out with heaters. Insulation will help keep in any warmth generated inside the building, for a cosier atmosphere. Now there is no reason why you can’t use your garden room even when it is chilly outside.
Dunster House WarmaLog Insulated Log Cabins come with double glazing and insulated walls, floor and roof as standard. The easy to install sandwich panels have polyisocyanurate insulation inside as it is one of the best insulating materials around and has high thermal efficiency.
Interiors
It may be tempting to just use your garden room as a place to store things away for the winter, and leave forgotten about for the rest of the year. But if you really want to make best use of this space all year then get yourself organised. Install shelves and units to keep everything neat and tidy inside, and encourage you to use it more.
Create a cosy and warm place to relax in by decorating and filling the interior with soft furnishings, textiles and fabrics. Add cushions, blankets, rugs to keep your feet warm, and put up curtains or blinds for added insulation on windows and doors. With these additions you can also add a splash of colour to liven the place up on a grey winter’s day. Snuggle up with blankets and get lost in a good book so you can forget about what the weather is doing outside. When the weather warms up again these items can easily be removed and packed away for next year.
Customer supplied image. We recommend consulting suppliers of externally purchased products to ensure suitability before adding a modification to a Dunster House garden building.
Get Seasonal
A log cabin is the perfect place as Santa’s Grotto. You could deck it out with fairy lights, a Christmas tree, gingerbread men and all sorts of decorations. With its rustic charm and appearance it would fit right in in any Alpine village, or look great in a picturesque snowy landscape.
Sit with a warming mug of hot chocolate, wrap your presents, or do festive activities with the children. Grab your favourite tipple and host a gathering in your new party venue. You could even set up a bar in the corner. Using an outdoor building means you can keep any mess contained and away from inside your home.
Follow our top tips and advice for the winter, so you can enjoy a warm, relaxing space that can be used throughout the whole year. With some essential maintenance work and carefully considered interior decoration, your garden buildings are sure to be well prepared to face whatever the winter brings.
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