Do you have a wooden cubby house in Australia but you are afraid of the upcoming rainy season? Wood can provide a comfortable and calming atmosphere that can make your cubby house feel like a refuge. Unfortunately, timber also requires maintenance to keep both its stylish charm and structural integrity. Here are some tips on how to protect your cubby house from rain.
Start repairs and maintenance during summer Always start your maintenance, preparations and repairs during the summer months because when the rainy season hits, the timber of your cubby house could be in great danger of serious damages caused by water. Rain will also make repairs more tedious so it is always advisable to do your maintenance work in summer.
Apply fresh paint New paint can do wonders on your cubby house in Australia. It can revitalize the look of your cubby house and play a huge role in protecting the wooden elements from moisture. Paint also helps seal the grains of the wood where moisture and water could seep in and damage your cubby house. You should always remember to put a fresh paint coat on wooden parts of your home that will be exposed to the weather during the later months of summer. This is because direct sunlight can make the exterior of your paint to crack allowing water to soak through into the wood. This is likely to invite termite infestation and cause the wood to crack.
Keep away moisture by using a water sealant If you don’t want to touch the natural shade of your timber cubby house by painting over it, you can always use water sealants. Water sealers can protect your wood from moisture and allow damp wood within the sealant to dry fast in order to avoid rotting, splitting and warping.
Varnish You can also protect your cubby house from rain by applying some varnish. Varnish gives the wood an extra sheen and prevents moisture from seeping into the grains. Varnish will also keep the natural look of wood. Try to use varnish only on wood that isn’t directly exposed to rain because it doesn’t work as well as water sealant and paint.
Use caulking compounds You can prevent rain from seeping through gaps and small holes in your wood trims by using a caulking compound. It is crucial, however, make sure you inspect and maintain it once in a while especially after dry spells. Dry weather can suck out all the moisture from your caulking compound and cause it to crack and shrink which will allow water to seep through into the timber once the rains come. You should, therefore, examine your cubby house and ensure that the wood you are applying it to is dry or else you will be sealing all that moisture into the wood.
Check the drainage system When it rains, make sure the water is flowing away from your wooden cubby house in Australia to the drainage system. If the rain stops and you find out that there are some patches on your cubby house even after the other areas have dried out, this could be an indication of a problem with your drainage system. Read more: countrycubbies.com.au
