1. Clean Your Shed

Regardless of the material your shed is made from, it is essential to clean it periodically. You can use a bucket of warm, soapy water and a sponge to wipe down the outside of the building periodically. Cleaning your shed ensures that stains do not develop alongside mildew or algae. We recommend doing this at the beginning of spring to welcome the new season and banish mud splashes that may have occurred over the winter months.

2. Maintain Your Metal Fittings

Any metal fittings on your garden shed should be cleaned to prevent rust, which can impact their functionality. At Viking Garden Buildings, we only use galvanised ironmongery, which is resistant to rust. If your building has cheaper fittings, we recommend changing them for galvanised fittings. You can use oil a few times a year, some come with rust suppressants, to prolong the lifespan of any locks or metal fixtures on your garden shed.

3. Inspect The Base And Surrounding Area

It is a good ideally to check around the base of your building regularly to ensure that the bottom of your shed is kept clear of any leaves, debris, soil or weeds. These can all interrupt the natural flow of air underneath and around your building, encouraging vermin and leading to premature decay. When plants or items are leaning against your garden shed or summerhouse, any rainwater that falls won’t have the chance to dry out properly, which can lead to wood decay and mould inside your shed. Any overhanging branches from trees and intrusive weeds such as ivy should be kept cut back and clear from your shed so that they do not compromise the roof or overall structure of your garden shed.

4. Inspect Your Shed

You should inspect your building regularly to check for any damage, so that you can fix it before it causes long-term or more serious damage. Timber sheds are robust, but you can often get small knots of wood that drop out, either in transport or across the course of a season. Knot holes can be filled to prevent moisture or pests from entering your garden shed. You can read more about knot holes, why they occur and how to deal with them here.

If you experience any damaged boards, they should be removed and replaced to prevent further decay of the building and ensure its security. At Viking Garden Buildings, we stock all the materials used in our buildings and can cut them to size, ready for your use.

5.Keep Your Shed Pest-Free

Pests can be a nuisance for any homeowner, and they can also lead to the rapid deterioration of your garden shed if not effectively managed.

It is essential to ensure that you do not block the bottom of your garden shed or summerhouse, either with pieces of wood or with weeds and overgrown grass. By blocking the bottom of your building off, you create a warm and draught-free area that can quickly become a breeding ground for vermin.

Seeds, bird feed and soil that you store in your shed should be in airtight/sealed containers. If pests catch the scent of any items stored inside your garden shed, they can be very destructive and quickly invade your building, searching for a food source.

General maintenance and proper storage methods in your building will generally deter vermin and pests from invading. Well-thought-out storage and airtight containers can prevent any unwelcome visitors. General housekeeping tasks, such as removing cobwebs and sweeping your floor, can help further prevent pests and keep your shed strong, sturdy, and secure for many years.

6. Check Your Shed Roof

One of the most essential parts of your building to ensure is still in tip-top condition is the roof of your shed. You should inspect your roofing material to ensure it is intact and in good condition, as this will help prevent leaks in your garden shed. There are numerous roofing materials available on the market, including polyester felt, which we offer at Viking Garden Buildings. Polyester felt is specifically made to be more resistant to tearing, as opposed to some of the cheaper shed felts on the market. EDPM is also an excellent choice for external roofs. We refer to this as ‘fit-and-forget’ material at Viking Garden Buildings. It comes with a 25-year guarantee period, and we expect it to last the entire lifespan of your building.

Whichever roofing material you choose, you should always ensure that any overhanging trees or shrubbery is cut back from your roof and that any debris that has fallen onto your roof is cleared away as soon as possible to prevent premature failure of your shed roof.

7. Treat your Timber Regularly

Wooden sheds should be protected from water ingress where possible. Some shed companies and paint manufacturers claim that you must treat your shed every 12 months, but this is not true. If you select the correct products, you can enhance the effectiveness of your maintenance, increase the lifespan of your building, and reduce the time spent treating it. Oil-based or acrylic-based paints should be used on external timber. Any water-based product that claims to offer water repellency properties is simply a waste of money, as it will require you to treat your building every 12 months and spend money on a new tin every year. We have a wealth of information about painting your building and how to ensure it is cared for effectively on our Painting Your Garden Shed Page.

Spending time maintaining your garden shed each year is worthwhile and will help prevent major structural defects, ensuring a longer lifespan for your building. While our garden sheds are designed to last in excess of 20 years with the correct maintenance, some products on the market are only designed to last 5-10 years. The overall build quality is a significant contributing factor to the lifespan of your building; however, careful maintenance will help ensure that your building lasts well. If your shed is beyond repair, consider exploring our extensive range of sheds and begin your new shed journey.