Gardening in 2011

To maintain wood garden sheds, arbors, or trellises looking the most beautiful, consider using a wood finishing product which include sealer, stain, or outdoor paint. Wood finishing protects exposed wood from sun, water, insect, and fungal damage.

Here are some some common wood finishing products:

Wood Sealer: Wood sealer blocks the pores from the wood, while still allowing natural fading and weathering.

Stain: Stain penetrates the wood, and in contrast to paint, it will not trap moisture and cause blistering or peeling. Stains appear in many colors, along with transparent or solid applications. Reapply the stain almost every other year to have the hue fresh.

Paint: Exterior paint protects the wood surface and it is found in every possible color. The garden shed or arbor should be sanded and primed before application. Remember that aging paint flakes and cracks, so you will have to scrape and sand again to refinish the wood later on.

If none of those suit your skills, there are a few other low maintenance wood finishing options:

Vinyl Siding: For wood garden sheds, you need to use vinyl siding as an alternative to wood siding. Vinyl siding is ultra low maintenance, comes into play many colors, and simply requires periodic cleaning (yearly) with water to help keep its fresh appearance.

Unfinished Cedar: In case your wood outdoor shed or arbor is manufactured out of cedar, (including Western Red Cedar), you possibly can choose to get out unfinished. Cedar would not warp, and it contains natural preservatives that prevent rot. Natural weathering eventually turns unfinished cedar a beautiful sliver-gray color.

Applying wood finishing products is not difficult while using the right tools
Stains and sealers can be applied that has a brush roller, pad, or spray gun. Look at the wood finishing manufacturer instructions. Apply two coats and expect you’ll reapply every two 5 years.