A garden room is a great addition if you need space for a home office, want somewhere to entertain guests or would like your own gym. If you’ve already decided you want a garden room but would like more information about how to look after this building to ensure its structural longevity and long-term functionality, this article is for you.
Read on to learn more about how you should care for your bespoke garden room, including tips and advice on cleaning and general maintenance. These tips apply to the custom garden rooms from Garden Retreats only—the maintenance required for garden rooms from other manufacturers may be different.
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What maintenance do garden rooms require?
A custom garden room is different to alternative garden buildings like a shed, conservatory or orangery. Compared to a garden shed, a garden room is made from superior materials and can be used for a wide range of applications. Unlike a conservatory or orangery, a garden room is a standalone structure that takes advantage of any extra space you have in your garden but does not extend from your main house.
A lot of garden rooms available in the UK are made of timber and will need some upkeep to ensure they maintain their original appearance. A timber garden building will either be treated or untreated, and will need regular maintenance to keep the material in a usable condition. This includes repainting every few years, either by yourself or with the help of a hired professional, and applying a wood preserver every year to untreated buildings to prevent rot, damp build-up, woodworm infestation and decay.
Additionally, some garden rooms come with felt or synthetic rubber roofing material which is likely to require regular replacement.
Caring for your Garden Retreats pod
Garden Retreats pods require zero external maintenance because they are clad in strong, weather-resistant composite material instead of wood. The frames are constructed using carbon fibre and glass fibre, so they won’t expand or deteriorate like alternative materials. However, your pod will still need standard internal maintenance such as cleaning of the walls and flooring.
The composite cladding prevents condensation from occurring in your pod. However, it’s still important to keep your pod well ventilated and supplied with regular airflow, especially if you are using your garden building as a home gym or fitness studio. This is made simple with our bifold and patio doors that open and close easily without slamming, and insulation from heat transfer (so no need for air).
Fixtures and fittings maintenance
Garden Retreats’ pods come with the following as standard: skirting boards, sliding internal doors (if selected), choice of bifold or patio doors in black or grey, internal walls (if selected), brushed aluminium sockets with USB plugs, Wi-Fi heating controlled by your smartphone, LED ceiling lights, external power sockets, an external power hook-up point and an internal electrical consumer unit.
After continuous use, the tracks on your internal and external doors may experience some build-up of dirt and debris. These should be cleared to prevent the door from becoming difficult to operate. This is easy enough to achieve, as all you need to do is loosen the debris with a small brush then clear them with a vacuum cleaner and thin attachment.
Internal walls and flooring maintenance
Garden Retreats’ pods come with luxury wall panels and Italian vinyl floor tiles as standard. All your wall panels and floor tiles need is a simple wipe down with warm water and soap using a cloth or sponge. It’s worth noting that scouring powders or abrasive chemicals should never be used as these will damage the wall panels and tiles.
Hardware maintenance
Door hinges can experience some wear and tear over time after being exposed to daily usage. These can be lubricated with a silicone spray as and when it is necessary to avoid squeaking.
You should also check the door handles and locks on your pod to make sure they are not seizing up or sticking. You can also use silicone spray on door handles—apply liberally and wipe away any excess oil with a damp cloth. Locks can be lubricated with WD40 or graphite powder to stop them from sticking.
Roof maintenance
Garden Retreats come with a strong, flat roof—this allows for a roof terrace to be installed in the future. To keep your roof in good condition, use water and a light detergent to give it a wash down at least twice a year. If there’s been a lot of rainfall, algae and moss may begin to form. You can remove this using a power washer, but use the device cautiously as you don’t want to break any fixtures like windows or external power sockets.
Terrace and decking maintenance
Garden Retreats pods are available with a roof terrace with a spiral staircase and/or composite decking (made from the same material as the external cladding) as optional extras due to the pods’ superior structural integrity. While composite decking does not require a lot of upkeep as it is stain-resistant, you still want to look after your decking to avoid the build-up of debris. This will help the material maintain its like-new appearance for longer.
Composite decking is made to withstand water and decay, unlike wood decking. You should, however, do everything you can to avoid standing liquid, such as puddles, from forming. Mould and mildew are common issues that develop when there’s moisture and warm weather, so it’s essential to clear standing water in order to safeguard your deck.
Contact Garden Retreats for more information on caring for and maintaining your garden room.