With this treatment, the timber is impregnated under high pressure with a preservative, protecting it from deep within against moisture, fungi and wood rot.
Pressure treatment is a low-maintenance option that protects the timber deep within against damp and the elements. The colour soaks into the timber, giving it a robust look that's built to last. The finish is hard-wearing and long-lasting. Suitable for the Pro and Log Cabin building systems.
Pressure-treated timber is low-maintenance and will hold up in all weather conditions for at least 10 years. Over time, the timber develops a beautiful, silvery weathered finish.
During the pressure treatment process, preservative is forced into the heart of the timber under high pressure. Once a vacuum vessel has been loaded with timber, a vacuum is created inside, drawing the air out of the timber. The vessel is then filled with preservative solution and pressurised at the same time, driving the preservative deep into the timber cells.
Low-maintenance: the timber stays protected against the elements for at least 10 years.
Thorough protection: even hard-to-reach areas are treated.
Natural look: the timber keeps its character and weathers to a natural silvery grey.
Environmentally responsible process: Lugarde uses preservatives that meet the strictest environmental standards.
Below you'll find a few practical points worth bearing in mind when choosing pressure treatment.
All the timber in your log cabin undergoes pressure treatment, including optional features such as:
The internal floor;
The timber of an insulated wall;
The ceiling;
The only exception to the above: windows and doors and/or larch decking.
You can choose from three standard colours: grey, green or brown. Over time, the timber takes on a light silvery tone, giving it a robust, natural look. Would you like to keep the original colour or enrich it? Then you can treat the timber with a wood oil.
Pressure-treated timber is extremely damp, which means we need to leave it to dry for an extra 2 weeks. This also means the lead time for delivery of a pressure-treated cabin is extended by 2 weeks. To make installation easier, we recommend leaving the pressure-treated timber to dry for a further 3 weeks once it has been delivered to you.
Pressure-treated timber has a long life, as mould and insects don't get the chance to break the wood down quickly. As with every type of timber, pressure-treated wood may weather to a silvery grey over time. Pressure treatment also doesn't make the timber fully waterproof (a little water can still get in). The weathering and any chance of water ingress can be prevented by treating the timber regularly with a preservative. We recommend a wood oil rather than a stain.
The advantage of wood oil is that if you stop maintaining the timber, the finish won't flake off, although the natural weathering will of course continue.
Pressure treatment can sometimes cause the timber to warp a little, making installation slightly trickier. Small cracks may also appear in the wood, but these only add to its natural character. In heavy rain or wind, a little water may find its way in through the knots or joints. This can be prevented by ventilating the cabin properly and/or treating the knots, end grain and joints with a suitable edge sealant.
Please bear in mind that choosing a wood oil product means you won't be able to switch easily to other products later on, as you can with water- or alkyd-based stains.
To achieve the best possible penetration of the preservative, the timber components are stacked in layers using what are known as stickers. This means that when you unpack the timber, you may notice some "stripes" like those shown in the photo. These will fade over time. When assembling pressure-treated timber, the wood may still be fairly damp and therefore slightly swollen, so the following points are worth keeping in mind. It can be more of a challenge to get the timber to fit together neatly. As mentioned before, we recommend leaving the timber to dry for at least a further 3 weeks before installation to ensure a better fit. Pressure-treated timber is more prone to developing drying cracks. This is entirely normal and won't affect the lifespan of the wood.
Our pressure-treated cabins are designed with a gap above each door and window frame. This allows the stacked wall sections to settle and prevents the upper wall boards from "resting" on the frame. Immediately after installation, this gap can be up to 6 cm wide (depending on the moisture content of the timber and the weather conditions). There's no need to worry, this is entirely normal for pressure-treated timber. Please don't fill this gap with a wooden batten or expanding foam. The timber will settle in time and the gap will close up. Pay attention to how the cover strip is fixed. It needs to be able to move as the timber dries out. Always fix it to the frame, never to the wall.
The treatment leaves the timber temporarily damp. That's why we let it dry for an extra two weeks before delivery.
The timber will continue to dry out after assembly. During this process, light drying cracks may appear, a natural feature of real timber.
Never fill any openings or knots with a hard material; the timber will continue to move.
Windows and doors aren't pressure-treated, as they're given a separate treatment to keep them fitting precisely.
Looking for even more protection or a particular finish? Then consider pairing pressure treatment with a coat of wood oil for added colour and protection.
Curious about the differences between our treatments? Read on about staining or discover the benefits of spray treatment as a pre-treatment.
View a garden house, log cabin, veranda or garage from Lugarde at a dealer near you. Our dealers are happy to provide tailored advice.
