WHAT KIND OF WOOD DO YOU USE TO BUILD AN OUTBUILDING?

The kind of wood you use for an outbuilding will influence its longevity and the amount of upkeep it will need during its lifespan. There are two types of wood-domestic and imported. There is a huge price difference between the two.

The preferred wood, most often for summerhouses, garden room and pergola dwellers, is pressure treated wood. The treatment is usually a preservative that gets pumped as a preservative, and then it is forced into the wood to help prevent any wood rot and insect damage. It is inexpensive and can easily be purchased from any wood merchant. Without the treatment, the soft wood can start to decay in a very short time and is usually about 1 to 2 seasons. Good treatment is usually a preservative or a treatment like a stain on the outer surface wood and it should be reapplied every two to three years.

Hard wood is about three to four times more expensive and is more durable compared to the soft wood. Oak and larch are usually the most preferrred in outbuildings. These whitesectional larch and Oak is more durable and rot resistant. The cost becomes justified. The storage sheds and summerhouses are where a preferred of basic storage shed will help.

Western red cedar is also a good option for consideration. It is classified as a softwood but does not require a pressure treatment to be decay resistant. It comes at a mid-range cost when compared to treated softwoods and oak. If left unfinished, western red cedar will age to a neutral silver-gray.

For pressure treated softwood structural framing, C16 and C24 graded softwoods are used. C16 is a good grade for a small outbuilding or shed, but for larger structures, C24 is the superior option.

Timber should always be kept off of the ground. The best course of action for timber protection is to pour a layer of concrete or shove a layer of pavement to create a base that is combined with a damp-proof membrane. The decay resistant qualities are more important than the wood species used.