CARE AND MAINTANANCE
Prevent moisture and mildew damage. Don’t allow garden mulch to build up and compromise your clearance. Keep bushes and vegetation trimmed away from the building to maintain a proper airflow around the building. This also prevents wear to the exterior cladding. Prevent water and dirt stains along the bottom of siding by maintaining 12"-18" of gravel around the perimeter of the building. This is also essential protection against water wicking up into the siding/exterior. Make sure sprinklers do not spray water directly on the siding/exterior.
Keep it moderately clean. Occasionally check up on gutters for leaves or blockages and the perimeter of the garden room for growths of vegetation. Keep window and door units clean with high-quality glass cleaning products. Conduct regular inspections or preventative measures for vermin, including rats, mice, squirrels, and foxes.
Winterise. If your building came with a ramp, maintain a ½" - ¾" clearance between the top of the ramp and the top of the floor. This allows the ramp to float with the freeze and thaw cycle. Keep moving parts working well. Oil the hinges, barrel bolts and keyhole annually.
Use an Allen wrench to loosen, or tighten the door latch as needed. Adjust the metal brace to keep the door straight and from bowing out at the bottom. If the doors don’t close properly, adjust the door hinges to realign them.
Treat it gently. Always secure open doors to prevent wind damage! Buy drop rods or install a simple chain, hook and eye system.
Paint and caulk as needed. Inspect regularly and replace missing or damaged caulking along seams where boards, trim, etc. meet. Repaint before your paint fails! This is recommended every 1-3 years (or 2-5 years depending on the paint) to keep your garden room in good condition, and local weather may reduce the longevity of the paint’s performance.
PAINTING INSTRUCTION
With a few simple steps, you can preserve the attractive appearance of your building for years to come.
When painting, please follow this painting instruction to meet the terms of your Warranty.
Uma garden rooms are finished with a high-performance exterior paint, to help resist moisture, UV rays, and fungal decay. To maximize its capabilities and withstand the elements, it must be protected by coating with quality paint.
1. Prepare the surface. Surface preparation is the key to a long-lasting painted finish. Remove all dust and dirt from the surface with a non-metallic brush. Once the surface is clean and dry, seal the top of all horizontal trim pieces with a high-quality, non-hardening paintable sealant with a minimum service life of thirty years. Follow the sealant manufacturer’s instructions for application. This prevents moisture from becoming trapped between the siding and the trim.
2. Paint. Apply paint only during good weather, when rain is not in the immediate forecast and the temperature will not drop below 50°F for at least 24 hours.
Use good quality nylon or polyester brush and/or a roller with a ½"-¾" polyester nap. Spraying is an option only if using professional, high-pressure, airless equipment capable of delivering at least 2500 PSI. Choose an exterior high-quality natural oil paint or stain. Make sure it is recommended for softwood timber cladding and has at least a 5-year warranty.
Stir the paint thoroughly. Apply primer if required, and allow to dry. Apply two coats of un-thinned paint. To prevent moisture from wicking up, all exposed surfaces of siding and trim must be coated, including the bottom edges. It is also recommended to finish the inside of the doors.
Allow one hour for the first coat to dry and four hours for the second coat to dry, or follow paint manufacturer’s instructions for drying time.