One of the most regular questions that we get asked is how to care for your new summerhouse - in particular what to treat it with.

In many ways, this can be a matter of personal opinion: Some people prefer to let the cedar fade down to its natural silvery-grey colour. A new building will begin this mellowing process as soon as it is assembled and will be noticeable after just a few weeks and will be quite silver after a year. If you like this mellow look then you can re-apply the same treatment that we use in the factory - a clear Barrattine wood protector formula every couple of years. This helps to prolong the life of the wood and reduces staining but does not alter the mellowing process. This treatment is easy to just use when needed

If you would really prefer to try and keep the original cedar colour in the wood then we can recommend using this Osmo oil product on new Summerhouses and Greenhouses as it prolongs the colour of new cedar by protecting it from Uv light. It is quite a viscous product so needs to be applied with a brush and will need 2-3 coats for best results.

This high-quality product is in effect a sun block for your wooden building. A 2.5l tin will be enough to coat a 6’x8’ summerhouse building approximately four times. Due to the effectiveness of this product, your building may only need treating every couple of years. Only the exterior of your building will require treating.

IMPORTANT: In the case of a summerhouse; we recommend using this product a couple of weeks after construction. This will ensure that the cedar has had time to air-dry but has not yet started to fade. In the case of a greenhouse, it is better to coat the individual parts whilst the greenhouse is flat packed before assembly. Bear in mind that you will need multiple coats and there is a long drying time.

Osmo uv-protection-oil extra is a satin, Clear finish for exterior. It is based on natural oils, is microporous, and does not crack, flake, peel or blister. Osmo uv-protection-oil extra prolongs the renovation time significantly. As a stand alone finish, with two coats, It prolongs the greying process on vertical surfaces by up-protection factor 12 compared to untreated wood. The finish contains active ingredients which protect it from mould, algae and fungal attack. Easy to renew, no sanding or primer necessary. Easy to apply, will not dry during application.