One of the easiest ways to waterproof timber is to paint it. It doesn’t matter whether you are painting the outside or inside of your shed, good paint will do a great job at both. Just make sure that you read the instructions on the paint carefully and make sure that the color you choose is suitable for your timber.
To begin with, you should always paint the underside of your timber. This is the most porous part, so it’s a good idea to match it with the paint that you use on the rest of the surface. The reason you do this is so that any water or liquid that goes into the shed will not cause damage to the timber.
As a general rule, you should try to match the color of the paint to the color of your timber, but don’t go too far off. Another thing to remember when you learn how to waterproof timber is to be careful about using chemicals. Some paints contain strong chemicals that can harm your timber, so make sure that you do not mix these with water or liquid that you might use on your timber.
Once the paint has dried, you can then seal the timber so that water will not penetrate it. The sealant will keep water from penetrating your wood, which in turn will prevent your timber from rotting.
For waterproofing your timber, there are two main types of sealant; mastic or water-based and latex-based or oil-based. Mastic is the cheapest but also the weakest. Find out more about structural waterproofing when you also head to sovchem.co.uk.
It seals your timber with a mixture of plastic and cement. It also adds another layer of protection from water but does not provide much in the way of a waterproof. Latex is the strongest but also the most expensive. It provides excellent waterproofing and also works very well as an undercoat to protect your timber.
There are also other methods of waterproofing timber, but these are the two best and generally the most cost-effective. If you don’t want to pay top dollar, or if you want to save money, try using a combination of both.
How to waterproof timber is not as difficult as it may seem. All it takes is a little time and patience. You need to get a good sealant on the timber surface. There are many different types available, but a cheaper type is a good idea to start with. This will give you a good test run before you purchase one that is more expensive.
It’s often better to buy the cheaper product and see how the water does on the surface before you purchase a more expensive sealant. Try using a trowel to clean off the paint and allow it to dry on the wetter side. After that, rinse off the excess paint with water, especially if there is water on the wetter side.
You will notice that as the water dries, your timber will begin to crack and chip this is normal, as this is the natural way for timber to protect itself against water. As the water dries, sand and gravel will settle, making the surface look like wood. This is a good sign that the timber is sealed properly and the sealant works.
As time passes, the cracks and chips will disappear and your timber will continue to protect itself from the water, allowing your garden shed to remain dry. When your wooden surface becomes water-resistant, you can then seal the rest of the shed with waterproofed polyurethane varnish or oil-based polyurethane to complete the job.
