| To keep wood garden sheds, arbors, or trellises | | | | wood garden sheds, you can use vinyl siding instead |
| looking their best, consider using a wood finishing | | | | of wood siding. Vinyl siding is ultra low maintenance, |
| product such as sealer, stain, or outdoor paint. Wood | | | | comes in many colors, and only requires periodic |
| finishing protects exposed wood from sun, water, | | | | cleaning (once a year) with water to keep its fresh |
| insect, and fungal damage.Here's a list of some | | | | appearance.Unfinished Cedar: If your wood garden |
| common wood finishing products:Wood Sealer: Wood | | | | shed or arbor is made from cedar, (such as Western |
| sealer blocks the pores of the wood, while still | | | | Red Cedar), you can choose to leave it unfinished. |
| allowing natural fading and weathering.Stain: Stain | | | | Cedar does not warp, and it contains natural |
| penetrates the wood, and unlike paint, it does not | | | | preservatives that prevent rot. Natural weathering |
| trap moisture and cause blistering or peeling. Stains | | | | over time turns unfinished cedar a lovely sliver-gray |
| come in many colors, and in transparent or solid | | | | color.Applying wood finishing products is easy with |
| applications. Reapply the stain every other year to | | | | the right tools |
| keep the color fresh.Paint: Exterior paint protects the | | | | Stains and sealers can be applied with a brush roller, |
| wood surface and is available in every conceivable | | | | pad, or spray gun. Check the wood finishing |
| color. The garden shed or arbor must be sanded and | | | | manufacturer instructions. Apply two coats and |
| primed before application. Remember that aging paint | | | | expect to reapply every two the five years.Leanne |
| flakes and cracks, so you'll need to scrape and sand | | | | Tremblay is the author and publisher of where you |
| again to refinish the wood down the road.If none of | | | | can find great ideas on garden sheds, shed plans and |
| those appeal to you, there are some other low | | | | shed kits, greenhouse kits, arbors, and trellises. |
| maintenance wood finishing options:Vinyl Siding: For | | | | |