Use and Care Manual

CARE AND MAINTENANCE
FINISHING
Storage Buildings/Playhouse/Sunshed: Buildings must be painted and caulked within 60 days of
installation. All trim including corner trim, door trim and window trim should be caulked and sealed
using a 30-45 year paintable acrylic latex caulk prior to painting. All raw exterior wood must be
primed using a quality exterior primer before painting. Nail holes, small knots and blemishes can be
filled with an exterior wood putty prior to priming. All factory primed siding and trim must be painted
using high quality exterior 100% acrylic-latex paint (we recommend a satin or semi-gloss finish) to
protect your building. Be sure to paint all exposed edges of the siding, especially the bottom edge,
and all six sides (top, bottom, two sides, front and back) of the doors. If your Sunshed is being
used as a greenhouse, you must paint the entire interior of the building. You must re-paint your
storage building as needed, depending on your climate and the quality of the paint used.
Cedar Gazebos/Pergola: Although cedar is naturally resistant to decay, we recommend finishing
your Gazebo with a quality semi-transparent exterior house or deck stain to provide additional pro-
tection. A stain with a water repellent and UV inhibitor is best. If left unfinished, cedar will weather
to a silver-gray color over time.
Steel Doors: Your steel doors have a baked-on factory enamel finish that will not fade or peel.
The doors may be painted but the following steps must be taken to prepare the door prior to paint-
ing. To ensure good adhesion, the surface should be lightly sanded using 360 grit sandpaper on the
flat surfaces and steel wool along the embossed surfaces. The surface should then be cleaned with
a xylene wash or phosphate cleaner and wiped dry with a clean, lint-free towel. Use a high quality
exterior 100% acrylic-latex paint, carefully following the manufacturer’s recommended application
procedures. Be sure to paint all six sides (top, bottom, two sides, front and back) of the doors.
You must re-paint your steel doors as needed, depending on your climate and the quality of the paint used.
MAINTENANCE
Like your home, your new storage or recreational building will require occasional maintenance to
insure many years of use and enjoyment. In addition to re-painting or staining your Building as
needed, you must perform other maintenance.
• Keep all grass and other vegetation trimmed around the entire perimeter of the Building
or Gazebo/Pergola.
• Buildings which are built on a wood floor (Gazebos excluded), are constructed on 4x4 treated
runners which resist damage from ground moisture and insects. These runners also elevate your
Building’s floor, allowing for important air circulation under the foundation. This circulation must
be maintained to insure long life of your wood foundation. If skirting is used around the perimeter
of your wood foundation, you must use a lattice or other material that will allow for proper air circulation.
• Do not mound soil or mulch against the siding of your Building.
• Do not stack anything against the exterior of your Building, such as firewood, for any period of time.
• Locking doorknobs or levers should be sprayed with silicone or other lubricant (i.e. WD-40)
to maintain locking mechanism and prevent freezing in cold climates.
• We do not recommend insulating or heating your Building.
• Do not let sprinklers spray your Building.
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