Garden sheds can be autoclaved. In this article we will explain the principle of this treatment and its advantages. We will then look at how to maintain an autoclave garden shed.
WHAT IS AN AUTOCLAVE TREATED WOODEN GARDEN SHED ?
Wood is often used to build garden sheds. We often find pine, fir or spruce. These wood types are naturally very sensitive to external influences such as moisture, wood-eating insects and fungi.
In order to be used outdoors and in particular for the construction of wooden garden sheds, these species undergo an autoclave treatment to resist external aggression. This is a chemical treatment against insects and moulds that allows the more fragile wood to withstand outdoor use for several years (approximately 20 years). The wood is inserted into a pressure vessel and the chemical is injected into the heart of the wood for better impregnation. After the treatment, the wood may take on a slight green tinge which will disappear over time. Depending on the exposure of the wood, the autoclave treatment of the garden shed will have to be renewed but many years later (20 years on average).
Autoclave wooden garden sheds are generally more expensive than untreated ones. The autoclave treatment process is a quality process which explains its slightly higher price.
If you choose an untreated garden shed, depending on the type of wood (spruce, fir, bread), you will probably have to apply a preventive insecticide and fungicide treatment. Autoclave-treated garden sheds will save you time by not having to apply insecticide and fungicide products yourself.
WHAT MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED FOR AN AUTOCLAVE-TREATED WOODEN GARDEN SHED ?
Autoclave wooden garden sheds require fairly simple maintenance, but this will be more important than for a steel shed for example.
Autoclave wood shelters are chemically treated and are therefore resistant to wood-eating insects and fungi. However, the autoclave treatment does not protect the wood from UV rays. As wood is a living material, your garden shed, even though it has been autoclaved, will turn grey over time.
This tarnishing of your garden shed only affects its aesthetic appearance, the structure of the wood is not changed. If you do not want your shed to turn grey, we advise you to protect your wood with a saturator. Within our range, you will find the Autoclave Wood Saturator SBA600 and the Siding Saturator SB600 which are very suitable for protecting an autoclave wooden garden shed from UV rays. The tinted versions can be used to restore the natural colour of your shed. For some customers, on the other hand, the aged grey effect of the wood should be retained. We have therefore formulated Grey Saturator SGA600 to homogenise and preserve the aged grey appearance of wood, including autoclaved wood.
The three main enemies of a wooden garden shed are: moisture, wood-eating insects and UV radiation. The autoclave treatment protects the shed from moisture and insects. The saturator protects the wood from UV rays and prevents the wood from turning grey.
