Owners' guide
Caring for your timber building
A timber building that gets looked after will outlast one that doesn't — by years. Here's exactly what we do before it leaves our factory, and the one job that's yours.
Before it leaves us
What we treat as standard
Every Wendy house we build gets the following at no extra cost — it is part of the price, not an upsell:
- All prices include VAT @ 15%
- Termite poison applied under the Wendy at time of construction
- Outside walls coated with wood sealant
Your job, once a year
Re-coat the outside
Annual re-coating required.
This is the single biggest factor in how long your building lasts. Lowveld sun breaks down the sealant coat over a season, and once the timber underneath is exposed it starts taking on water. Re-coating once a year keeps that from ever starting — it is far cheaper than repairing timber that has already been left bare.
Good practice
A five-minute seasonal check
Walk around it once a season
Look for bare, faded or chalky patches on the outside walls — especially the north and west faces, which take the hardest sun. Those are the spots that need coating first.
Keep vegetation off the timber
Trim back shrubs and creepers touching the walls. Plants trap moisture against timber and hold it there long after the rain has stopped.
Keep the base clear
Don't stack soil, sand or firewood against the walls. Anything piled against timber keeps it damp and gives insects a bridge past the treated base.
Check after storms
After heavy Lowveld rain or wind, check the roof sheeting and that water is running away from the structure rather than pooling underneath it.
Not sure what your building needs?
Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we’ll tell you straight whether it needs a coat, a repair, or nothing at all.