Base Preparation
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOUR BUILDING IS ERECTED ONTO AN ADEQUATE BASE. IT MUST BE SQUARE, LEVEL, FIRM AND AT LEAST THE SAME SIZE AS YOUR BUILDING, WITH ENOUGH CLEARANCE AROUND FOR THE ROOF AND FOR US TO ASSEMBLE IT. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU ALLOW APPROXIMATELY 9″ EXTRA CLEARANCE ALL THE WAY AROUND YOUR BASE AREA TO ALLOW FOR THE ROOF OVERHANG OF YOUR BUILDING. BY PREPARING AN ADEQUATE BASE, YOU ELIMINATE THE RISK OF PROBLEMS WITH DOORS AND WINDOWS STICKING DUE TO POOR FOUNDATIONS. WE RECOMMEND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS:
Plastic Base
Interlocking square panels which are light and easy to handle. They are made from recycled plastic. These must be laid before delivery of your building ideally on sand to ensure that they are level. The open nature of the base allows water to drain away naturally from your garden building whilst promoting air flow under your building, which reduces the chance of it becoming rotten. For larger buildings you may want to weigh this down by putting shingle within the base squares.
Anka Base System
Adjustable base foundation system which is for use on soft ground. The ground screw levelling system allows for precise adjustment and the plates help to anchor your building. This can be fitted at the time of delivery and installation of your building. It is easier and greener than slab or concrete option and relocatable.
Slab Base
Please remove any vegetation from the area and lay the slabs onto sand or ballast. Ensure the slabs are level by using a spirit level.
Concrete Base
Please remove any vegetation from the area. Pour the concrete 2″ deep, using a 5:1 ballast to cement mix. The base should be the same size as your garden building and level.
Whichever base method you choose, it is essential that you allow approximately 9” extra all the way around your base area to allow for the roof overhang of your garden building.
Customer Attendance
We do realise that customers are sometimes unable to be present when we deliver their garden building. If you have chosen installation of your building our fitters are happy to install the building without anybody at home. If you will not be at home, it would be helpful if you sent us by post, email or phoned any special instructions prior to the day of delivery or if a particular orientation is required, a note on the base would be appreciated. Can you also ensure there is a reliable contact, in case there are any problems on the day.
Installation of Your Shed
We offer an installation service, which is at the time of delivery only. If we are unable to erect your garden building due to a lack of clear access or a suitable base not being ready, we will have no option but to leave the building on site for you to self-install. If you want us to come back to put the building up (e.g. after you have made the base right) the following charges will apply and will need to be paid prior to re-visit. £150 for a Shed, £200 for a Workshop, Garage, Suffolk Barn, Compact Barn, Large Bespoke Building & Summerhouses, £300 Wessex Log Cabins and Woburn Garden Studios. If you do require us to come back the re-visit date will be within our current lead time. Please note that if the base is not level Merit Timber Products cannot accept any responsibility for problems with the building which may be due to the base.
Please check the following points before confirming delivery of your garden building:
Access – Is the access to the base, clear of any obstacles, such as ground works, steps, garden furniture, hanging baskets, etc?.
Height – Is the access free of any height restrictions? Each building is made in panels of different sizes and the largest panels we make are 8ft x 8ft. Please ring us for advice if you know there are height restrictions into your garden.
WE REGRET THAT DUE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS OUR FITTERS CANNOT LIFT PANELS OVER BUILDINGS OR HIGH FENCES.
Width – Is the journey between the unloading point and base free of any sharp or narrow bends?.
Distance – Is the distance from the lorry and the base no more than 75 yards and not excessively steep?
Foliage – Is all foliage, up to a height of 7ft, removed from around the base.
Clearance Around The Base – Is there 9″ clear working area around the base?(18″ for a Combi Greenhouse)
Please note our fitters cannot take garden building panels over other buildings, or fences for health and safety reasons. They also do not have time to make remedial base work or other site work. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the above conditions are met.
PLEASE NOTE Unless previously agreed, and on your order form, we install our sheds and garden buildings using the following methods.
1. Panels are nailed together using ring-shanked nails
2. We use a Standard Roofing felt (20kg grade) that is stapled to the building
3. We do not seal windows with silicone & we recommend that you do this as soon as possible to prevent water ingress
4. All single doors come right hinged
5. The roofs and floors on Pressure Treated buildings are dip treated golden brown
6. We recommend that you give your building an additional treatment after delivery / installation.
Log Cabins & Woburn Garden Studios can take up to a week or longer to install depending on the extras and work required with your order
Delivery
Please note that you will receive a letter approximately a week prior to delivery to inform you of the delivery date. We do not phone customers with delivery dates. We make every attempt to reach you on the day stated, however, sometimes due to weather or road conditions this is not always possible. Unfortunately we cannot give an accurate time of delivery due to these conditions.
Delays can occur due to poor weather or traffic conditions. If the delay is significant our drivers are equipped with mobile phones and will contact you to inform you of the situation.
Our drivers use satellite navigation so please inform us by email, or in writing if your address is difficult to find and and provide us with maps if necessary.
IF YOU ARE HAVING YOUR BUILDING INSTALLED, ON COMPLETION OUR FITTERS WILL ASK YOU TO CHECK AND SIGN FOR YOUR BUILDING.
We recommend that you treat your building soon after delivery / installation and that you seal your window glass with silicone of suitable waterproofing to prevent water coming through.
Payment Terms
Please note that full payment is due BEFORE delivery, and we will inform you of the balance to be paid when we inform you of the delivery date. You can pay the balance at any of our sales sites, in person or on the phone, with cash or most major debit / credit cards or Building Society Cheque (Cashiers Cheque) or Bankers Draft. You can pay directly into our bank account (the details will be on you invoice). We do not take personal or business cheques and our drivers cannot take any balances when they deliver, for reasons of personal safety.
Please note if you would like to cancel your order notice must be given in writing and a minimum charge of 10% of the sale value of the building is non-refundable, unless your order is covered by the distance selling regulations. If the building has been manufactured, we can insist on completion of the order as these are made to a specific order.
IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO RING 01449 711145
Aftercare of Your Building
Treatment
Standard Shiplap & Loglap Golden Brown or green dipped treatment – Our buildings are treated with a base coat of preservative that provides an excellent first base coat. However, we recommend that you treat your building soon after delivery and then regularly to maintain the building in good condition. Always follow the proprietary treatment manufacturers instructions with regard to use and how often it will need to be treated.
Woburn Garden Studios & Thermowood buildings – These should be treated with a suitable product, to help maintain and enhance the appearance. We recommend Eco Shield, Royal Exterior or Restol Wood Oil.
The roofs and floors on Pressure Treated buildings are dip treated golden brown.
Pressure – treated Shiplap and Loglap – Impregnated using proven vacuum, high pressure technology and ACQ wood preservative offers long term protection against decay and insect attack. ACQ is an environmentally non-arsenic, non-chromium water based wood preservative which conforms to British, European & International Standards (details available on request). The colour of pressure treated timber slowly weathers from an initial green hue to a natural silver grey. If you wish to re-treat your pressure-treated shed, we recommend that all timbers are dry and you use a product specifically for use on pressure-treated timber. We do not recommend that pressure treated sheds are dipped treated as well at the time of manufacture. Where there is high humidity you may find that mould deposits may occur where air is unable to circulate and you may also find that chemical deposits may occur over time. Although this may not be attractive these can be brushed off and will not effect the integrity of the timber. The treatment does not waterproof your shed and we recommend that you treat your building soon after delivery and we recommend you apply Eco Shield which is a highly performing product.
Please note that timber is porous and none of the above treatments will totally waterproof your building. In normal circumstances the overhang of the roof will keep out any rain water.
Moisture – Caused by damp, wet conditions can get trapped inside sheds, especially if they are not used often. If the outside temperature drops, any moisture inside the shed will cause condensation on the inside of the shed panels, roof, floor and possibly other items stored in the shed.
Roofing
Standard Felt Roof (20kg grade) –We staple the roofing felt in place. Check your roof regularly to ensure that the roofing felt is firmly fixed to the shed roof and particularly following high winds and storms. You may need to re-felt your roof from time to time or you can apply a product such as Thompsons Roof Seal which will prolong the life of your roof.
Non Rip Felt – Polysester felt with bitumen back for longer life. Whilst this should last longer than a standard fibre glass felt, it is not possible to put a life span on felt due to weather conditions and location of the building. Roofing felt is stapled into place.
Shingle Roof – Please note that the shingles are both nailed or stapled on to the roof and have an adhesive backing. Over the heat of the summer this will adhere strongly to the roof. Check your roof regularly to ensure that the shingles are firmly fixed to the shed roof and particularly following high winds and storms. In the case of wind lifting the shingles please use a suitable roofing adhesive to re-affix.
Rubber EPDM – 1 piece of black rubber sheeting which is glued down. Excellent resistance to water and weathering.
Check your roof regularly to ensure that there is no debris or tree or hedge branches that can come in contact with the roof. Remove snow after a heavy fall, otherwise leakage may occur when the snow thaws.
Windows & Doors
We recommend that you seal your window glass with silicone or suitable waterproofing to ensure that water doesn’t come through. Ensure that you regularly oil or grease the door hinges and lock as necessary. Use thee turn buttons at the top and bottom of the doors all the time to prevent the doors bowing.
Check your base
If your base drops even a few centimetres, it can cause the building to become out of alignment. This can cause twisting or listing of the building and door to drop. Take preventative action if this looks like happening. If your base is larger than the building then check to see if any water is pooling up on the base which can cause problems. Take action to stop this.