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Care and Maintenance for Your SheShed Kitset Cabin

Name: Sheds and Cabin Kitsets For Every NZ House | Sheshed
Address: 145 McShane Rd, Richmond 7020, New Zealand, 7020, NZ
Telephone: 0800 626 500
Price range: $$$-$$$$$$

A little care keeps the good years coming

Your SheShed kitset cabin is designed to be a beautiful, long-lasting addition to your backyard and a space you can enjoy in every season. Like any timber building, a little regular care goes a long way. Keeping the cabin clean, checking it regularly, maintaining its protective coatings and managing moisture around the building will help it stay strong and looking its best for years to come.

The golden rules of kitset cabin maintenance are simple:

Keep water moving away.
Keep fresh air flowing through.
Keep exterior coatings in good condition.

Understanding your timber kitset cabin

SheShed cabins are made from real Nordic Spruce, and like all natural timber, it responds to changes in temperature and moisture. As the seasons change, the boards may expand, contract and settle slightly. You may notice small surface checks or fine cracks, slight movement, or natural variations in colour. These are normal characteristics of timber rather than manufacturing defects.

The key is to allow your cabin to move and breathe naturally while keeping excess moisture out and its protective coating in good condition.

How often should you maintain a kitset cabin?

Looking after your cabin does not need to be complicated, a simple maintenance schedule will cover most of what is required:

Within the first 4–8 weeks: Carry out a settling check. Keep any storm bracing loose initially, then tighten it at around eight weeks once the cabin has settled.

Every 6 months: Give the exterior a gentle wash to remove dirt and contaminants before they begin affecting the protective coating. (See cleaning notes below)

Every 12 months: Carry out a full inspection of the timber, roof, foundations, hardware, ventilation and protective coatings. (See below for what to check)

After severe weather: Check for roof or flashing damage, water ingress, broken glazing or structural movement.

How to clean the exterior of your kitset cabin:

Every six months, it's great to give the exterior of your cabin a gentle wash. Regular cleaning removes grime, organic matter and contaminants that can shorten the life of exterior paint or stain. Pay particular attention to:

south-facing walls
beneath eaves and any sheltered areas
lower wall boards
around windows and doors

Use a soft brush, and low-pressure garden hose with mild detergent. Do not use water blasters, abrasive cleaners, bleach and solvents, as these can damage the timber or its protective coating. Remove dirt, cobwebs, bird droppings, moss/lichen, mould, (and any salt deposits for cabins in coastal areas).

Your annual kitset cabin maintenance checklist:

Check the exterior timber. Inspect the exterior boards for gaps, damage, wear or other defects and arrange repairs or adjustments promptly.
Check doors and windows. Make sure doors and windows continue to open, close and seal correctly. As the timber settles naturally, some adjustment of hinges may be required over time.
Inspect the roof, and any gutters or rainwater system. Check the roof for damage and remove any moss, lichen or other debris. Inspect flashings and roofing, and make sure any gutters and downpipes are clear and working correctly.
Check the foundations and drainage. Make sure water is draining away from the building and the area beneath your cabin remains dry and ventilated. Never allow soil, mulch or leaves to build up against the timber wall boards.
Check inside the cabin. Look for signs of movement, moisture staining or anything else that may indicate water is getting where it should not.
Inspect the paint or protective coating. Check painted or stained surfaces for cracking, peeling, fading, wear or exposed timber. Your exterior coating is one of your cabin's most important lines of defence against the weather, so deal with deterioration promptly rather than waiting until bare timber is exposed.

When should you repaint or recoat a timber cabin?

There is no single repainting interval that applies to every cabin. How often your cabin needs repainting or recoating will depend on the paint product used, how well you prepared the surface before painting, its exposure to the weather and your local environment. High-UV and coastal locations may require more frequent attention.

Always follow the coating manufacturer's recommended maintenance intervals and recoat promptly if you notice cracking, peeling or exposed timber.

When repainting or recoating:

Wash the surface to remove any loose material, (see cleaning section above), then allow the timber to dry before continuing.
Sand away loose or failing paint, and fill any defects as required.
Spot-prime exposed timber, then apply a minimum of two premium exterior coats, letting it dry fully between each coat.

Protecting your kitset cabin from moisture

Moisture management is one of the most important parts of caring for any timber kitset cabin. Make sure water drains freely away from the building and keep subfloor ventilation clear. To help keep your cabin dry:

Keep vegetation at least 300 mm away from walls.
Do not allow standing water beneath the cabin.
Do not direct sprinklers or irrigation onto exterior timber.
Do not allow soil, mulch or paving to sit against wall boards.

Look after your little place

Once your cabin kitset has been assembled, ongoing maintenance is much the same as looking after any other timber building. Because your SheShed is supplied as a timber kitset, the owner is responsible for its assembly and ongoing reasonable maintenance, including prompt repairs and maintaining protective coatings.

Deterioration of timber is almost always caused by insufficient maintenance or assembly errors so probably won't be covered by any warranty. A few simple checks throughout the year will help protect your cabin, extend the life of its timber and coatings, and leave you with more time to simply enjoy your SheShed.