*Update November 2023*

We are open Monday-Saturday 9am-5.30pm and Sundays 10am-4.30pm

Please feel free to come and visit our showsite, alternatively if you would like to make an appointment please call or email us.

To discuss your requirements or for further information please call 01403 255456

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Cousins Conservatories & Garden Buildings

Hilliers Garden Centre, Brighton Rd, Horsham, RH13 6QA

01403 255 456

Call our friendly team 7 days a week for help and advice

Open 7 Days a Week

Mon - Fri 09:00 - 17:30
Saturday - 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday - 10:00 - 16:30

Garden Building Maintenance and Repairs

The Cousins guide to garden building maintenance & repairs

Keep your garden building in tip top shape all year round

Once you’ve purchased your garden building, be it a shed, summerhouse, garden room or other, there are a few things you can do to help prolong its life and keep it in tip top condition. We’ve put together the following guide on maintaining sheds, summerhouses, greenhouses, metal sheds, plastic sheds and concrete garages.

Maintenance for Wooden Garden Sheds and Summerhouses

Wooden Garden Shed and Summerhouse Maintenance

This is our guide to garden building maintenance which aims to help you prolong the lifespan of your garden building. You’ll also find a few few practical tips too!

Sealing of windows – All garden buildings with windows should be sealed properly to ensure they are water tight. In some instances it may be necessary to re-seal a window if the sealant has perished. We always use a clear/neutral low modulus silicone to seal windows as this allows for adequate movement in extremes of temperature. This means your windows will stay fully watertight no matter what the weather.

Treatments / Preservatives – All of our garden buildings come factory treated with a base coat of solvent timber treatment however it is recommended that you apply your own treatment within 12 months of installation. We advise against using a water based treatment as this only coats the timber, whereas as a solvent based treatment soaks into the timber and fully treats the wood.

Handles, Locks & Hinges – With all door and window furniture we recommend regularly lubricating these items to stop them from seizing up and rusting.

General Maintenance Advice – To maximise the life of your garden building we recommend keeping all surrounding trees, shrubs and bushes cut back so they are not in contact with your building as this can lead to the onset of damp and rot issues.

Roofing Felt – If you notice that your roofing felt is looking a bit tired or you have noticed a rip or tear we advise against “patching up” as this is only a temporary fix. In our experience we would always recommend a full re-felt.

Maintenance for Greenhouses (Aluminium & Cedar)

Aluminium & Cedar Greenhouse Maintenance

An aluminium greenhouse should last a lifetime with minimal maintenance required. A cedar greenhouse, if well maintained can last as long as 25 years. Below you will find our top tips and recommendations to keep your greenhouse in optimum condition.

Windows (glass & plastic) – To keep your greenhouse in the best possible condition we recommended cleaning your greenhouse glass or plastic at least twice a year. This will prevent the build up of moss and algae and allow maximum sunlight to shine through which will in turn help your plants.

Gutters – Again we recommend cleaning out and removing debris from your gutters at least twice a year. This will stop any internal leaks, damage to the gutter itself and allow the flow of rainwater to a water butt if you have one.

Water butts – During Autumn and Winter to avoid the build up of stagnant water we recommend draining your water butt before use. In Spring and Summer if you are using the water on a regular basis no further maintenance is required.

Your greenhouse base – Its worth checking the base upon which your greenhouse sits. If there is any sign of deterioration whatsoever its worth rectifying as early as possible as this can affect other parts of your greenhouse frame.

Your greenhouse glazing – On most aluminium greenhouses the glazing is secured using clips. By simply removing a clip or two you should be able to remove and replace a broken pane fairly easily. Changing the windows on a cedar greenhouse can be a little trickier as windows can be slotted in to grooves cut in to the framework of the building, held in place by clips and or beading or a combination or the aforementioned.

Doors – If your greenhouse doors open inwardly or outwardly the only maintenance required is the regular application of a suitable oil to the door hinges as and when required. If your greenhouse has a sliding door or doors we recommend applying a suitable lubricant to the door wheels or “runners”. If your door wheels are heavily worn you can replace them by purchasing a door wheel replacement pack, which are available at all good garden centres.

Maintenance for Metal Sheds Metal sheds are for the most part maintenance free. With that said there are a few items of maintenance that you might want to consider to extend the life of your building. General maintenance – As with most types of maintenance doing the basics such as cleaning with a soapy water (at least once a year) will allow you spot any potential problems early. Lubrication of Handles, Locks & Hinges – A regular application of a suitable oil to the door / window hinges as and when required. Metal Shed Maintenance
Maintenance for Plastic Sheds Plastic sheds are also a very low maintenance garden building requiring minimal maintenance. We do however recommend regular cleaning with hot soapy water to keep your building looking good. Plastic Shed Maintenance
Maintenance for Concrete Garages Roofing – As with most roofs on garden buildings and concrete garages there is minimal maintenance required. We do however recommend that surrounding shrubs, trees and nearby plants are not allowed to grow on the outside of the building and where possible overhang and touch the roof as this can lead to structural problems if allowed to get out of control. Garage doors – Whether you have an up and over, roller shutter or sectional garage door its likely that this is the most used part of your garage. Maintaining your garage door is an essential part of all garage maintenance. We recommend lubricating all rollers, hinges, tracks and latches at least once a year. In most cases WD-40 is the best type of lubricant to use although you should check your manufacturer guidelines. Windows – If the windows in your garage open then again its a good idea to lubricate himges and openers to stop them sticking. Gutters – For all concrete garages we strongly recommend regular cleaning of guttering at least once a year. Concrete Garage Maintenance
Maintenance for Log Cabins Log cabins probably require more ongoing maintenance than most other types of garden buildings. This is generally because they are delivered and erected in an untreated form. Treatments / Preservatives – Log cabins require treatment as soon as they are installed. This is because they are delivered and erected in an untreated form to allow for the timber expansion. We recommend using a solvent based treatment or preservative and applying a second treatment within the first year. Its then common practice to re-treat log cabins every year as they generally tend to move and settle over time. Roofing (Standard roofing felt & Felt tiles) – If you have had your log cabin for several years roofing felt or tiles can start to look a little tired but can be easily replaced using a local contractor. Felt roof tiles are generally more harder wearing and tend not to suffer from damage and shouldn’t really need replacing. Standard roof felt on the other hand is a little less hard wearing. If you notice any damage to standard felt we recommend a full re-felt as “patching up” is only ever a temporary solution and can lead to more problems further down the line. Handles, Locks & Hinges – With all door and window furniture we recommend regularly lubricating these items to stop them from seizing up and rusting. Log Cabin Maintenance