When buying a garden shed in Plymouth, you have so many options when it comes to materials. You can buy wooden sheds, of course, but you can also invest in sheds made from brick and even metal. It depends on what your preference is, but most agree that, from an aesthetic point of view, wooden garden sheds look the best. Still, there is always room for debate on this subject, right? If you choose to go down the route of wooden sheds, then you need to make sure your sheds are made from the right materials. At Plymouth Sheds, we only use high-quality wood, which we know meets the standards we expect. At the same time, though, wooden sheds need to be properly treated. Otherwise, the wood can begin to rot, decay and leave you with an expensive repair bill to deal with. When reviewing wooden garden sheds, you might come across a term: tanalised pressure-treated timber. A new shed should always be made from high-quality, treated wood. At Plymouth Sheds, we make sure that we provide the highest quality of sheds but also the greatest variety. That means we provide both treated and non-treated sheds so you can decide on the best treatment option for you. Why, though? What makes using tanalised pressure-treated timber the right choice if you want to get the most out of your garden shed, and ensure longevity? Let’s review! Tanalised Pressure-Treated Timber: Marketing Slogan Or Vital? So, the problem with many of the terms used in marketing for garden sheds is that they usually amount to very little. Something sounds like it is a must-have, can-not-go-without feature – yet, when you read more into it, it’s nothing too impactful. There is also the risk that marketing teams use terms such as tanalised pressure-treated timber when, in fact, the products are not treated in this way! Untreated Timber: What’s The Difference? There is also the confusion that often surrounds tanalised pressure-treated timber. Why? Well, when you buy timber, it comes in two forms: untreated or treated. What does that mean? Well, untreated timber is, as you might imagine, sent directly from a lumber mill. It has not gone through any treatments or additions, and is pretty much as it was when the tree was cut down. This is important to know because many products are made using untreated timber. A hardy and versatile wood in itself, timber without treatment can be a long-lasting, effective choice of material. Yet, untreated wood is far more susceptible to impact from the elements. Without using treatment, your timber can be more likely to warp, rot and generally become damaged. You can use untreated timber indoors, where the elements are far less prevalent. In a garden shed, though? You likely will need tanalised pressure-treated timber. Why Should I Consider Buying Untreated Timber Sheds? Yes, untreated timber cannot last in the outdoors as well as tanalised pressure-treated timber can. That means that your timber shed can look great when it first arrives, but within a few years, it might look a little rough. It might need more attention to detail and more repairs, maintenance and re-painting. At Plymouth Sheds, we sell a range of high-class sheds that come both treated and untreated. You can tell our sheds that have been untreated by looking at sheds with an orange-like hue to them. It should be noted, though, that there is a significant price difference between treated and untreated garden sheds. You can choose whether to pay for a treated garden shed and pay a little more, or buy one of our untreated sheds and add the treatment yourself. Let’s look at why tanalised timber is worth the extra expense or, if you buy untreated, the extra effort to treat your timber prior to being put together. Tanalised Timber: At A Glance Timber that has been treated with a pressure treatment using a combination of chemical products. These make a big difference as it means that the timber is now protected with a coating that means the elements are far less impactful. The treatment process means carrying out the delivery of tanalith, a form of chemical that is used on products like timber, in a high-pressure environment. The pressure treatment ensures that every part of the timber is impacted, leaving no gaps or areas that were not properly treated. It gets right into the timber itself, ensuring that the whole of the wood has been properly treated. That makes a huge difference to longevity, keeping your garden shed standing for longer. Dip VS Pressure Treatment It is important to know, too, that you get different forms of treatment for wood. Most sheds in the UK will go through a dip treatment. Dip-treated sheds, though, usually need to be re-treated as the coating only lasts for so long. At Plymouth Sheds, we sell tanalised sheds that are already pre-treated as well as sheds that you can treat yourself so you can manage the treatment in line with your own requirements. Please note when looking at our sheds that only the sheds marked as tanalised come as pre-treated; other sheds will need to be manually treated. With pressure treatment, though, the longevity lasts much longer. It takes longer as the pressure treatment gets right into the wood as opposed to just being a surface-level coating. That ensures that your wood is more likely to last in the long term, though. While you pay less for dip-coated tanalised timber, tanalised pressure-treated timber probably provides better value for money in the long term. What Does Tanalised Timber Resist? The main benefit of having this kind of treatment carried out on your garden shed is the protection it bestows on the wood. This does more than just stop the constant change from dampness to drying from warping the wood quite so severely. It also protects the tanalised pressure-treated timber from a range of potentially problematic developments. For example, your tanalised pressure-treated timber will be much more resistant to problems such as mould and fungal infections within the wood. Tanalised pressure-treated timber is also far less likely to rot, too, making sure you are not going to have problems with the wood needing to be replaced anytime soon. Crucially, tanalised pressure-treated timber also protects from insect invasions, meaning your wood is unlikely to be chewed and eaten up by wood-loving insects around the Plymouth area. There is also the inherent resistance against extreme weather. Given that we can get some amazing summers but also frigid winters in Plymouth, this is very important. Untreated timber would be more likely to snap, crack, rot and fray with such drastic shifts in temperature and conditions. With tanalised pressure-treated timber, though, that is not the case; the wood remains far more durable long-term. As such, tanalised pressure-treated timber is the perfect choice for sheds in Plymouth. These buildings stand outdoors for many years; the wood has to be durable enough to withstand these changes and effects. Otherwise, you might be looking at a replacement shed sooner than expected! Can I Paint Tanalised Pressure-Treated Timber? Yes, absolutely – you can provide treated timber with the same paints and products you would use on traditional, untreated timber. You can paint it, decorate it, and change the timber in any way you like. There is no difference in the decorative aspect of tanalised pressure-treated timber compared to untreated timber. That means those annual touch-up jobs you carry out will still be as effective with tanalised pressure-treated timber as they are with normal timber that has not been treated. Our pre-treated sheds can be painted immediately, while our non-treated sheds should be tanalised first and then painted. Treating your tanalised timber is very important. Make sure that you give your garden shed a regular clean to remove any build-up of dirt on the outer layer of the wood. Warm, soapy water with a non-abrasive brush should be the ideal starting point. Also, look for any signs of wear and tear such as emerging cracks; fill these in with wood preservative to ensure the physical damage does not worsen. Ensure that your shed has good base drainage, too, to avoid water build-up and pooling. How Long Does Tanalised Pressure-Treated Timber Last? There are many different reasons why pressure-treated timber lasts longer than normal timber. For one, the resistance to the elements and the lack of attraction for insects means your shed is far less likely to become damp or physically damaged. Generally, with the right attention to care and maintenance scheduling, tanalised pressure-treated timber can last for as long as thirty years. However, these timeframes could change based on your maintenance schedule, how you use your shed, where it has been built, and various other factors. For the most part, though, tanalised pressure-treated timber will last for decades if you take proper care of it. Even the best untreated timber is likely to last this long, no matter how much you maintain it! Should I Buy Garden Sheds Made From Tanalised Pressure-Treated Timber? In our view, yes. Garden sheds made from treated timber are much more likely to last longer than their untreated counterparts. At Plymouth Sheds, we value the importance of longevity. Many of us buy a shed and expect it to last us for decades. Well, with our range of tanalised pressure-treated timber garden sheds, that is the case. So long as you follow the advice provided on maintenance and care, there is no reason why your garden shed cannot last for many years. However, you can easily treat non-tanalised sheds yourself to make sure you get the longevity you require. If you need help with this process, just call us and we can offer you support and advice on the best way to go about applying this treatment. The weather we get here in Plymouth can often be spectacular, but when it rains, it pours. As such, you need a shed that is resistant to warping and rotting due to water intake. Untreated timber is not capable of standing up to such consistent weather impact, whereas tanalised pressure-treated timber is. That extra fortification can be the difference between your shed lasting years and lasting decades. Looking To Buy The Best Tanalised Pressure-Treated Timber Sheds? If you want to make sure that you get your hands on quality garden sheds that are made using the best tanalised pressure-treated timber, contact Plymouth Sheds. We have a collection of top-class sheds which are perfect for Plymouth’s environments and landscapes. With pressure-treated timber, you get the certainty that your shed is protected for years to come. No more worrying about rot and fungus. We also have a range of non-tanalised sheds that you can treat on your own, giving you more control on the treatment length. Give us a call today if you have any questions about tanalised pressure-treated timber or finding the right shed for your property. Do not settle for second best; if you want a garden shed that lasts long-term, pick Plymouth Sheds!