Hello, experts. In our garden, there is a 12ft X 8ft work-shed. In previous years, when I was much fitter than I am now, I would coat the walls etc. with Cuprinol or Ronseal. Both of these have become very expensive — especially Cuprinol. Besides, Ronseal demands two-coats if it is to work properly. In my old age (83), even to apply one coat would be too much work, and to arrange with someone to do this and pay them for it also has difficulties. (For one, I could not decide on the best day, weather-wise, and just tell him to come and do it. It would need to be convenient for both parties, which may not always be the case.) Anyway, I thought of a way to do it with one coat only, taking my time during the next summer, and to me, it seemed that, after being done, there would not be any need to do it again. What I thought of was to paint it with bitumen paint, which (I think) would last for a very long time. (With luck, it may outlast me altogether.)
However, before embarking on this job, I should like to be sure about some things, and this is the reason for my posting. Here are some questions, and I would be grateful for considered answers to them.
1) The lower parts of the walls are coated with a green growth of some kind. It is not moss, such as grows on damp stones, but is certainly caused by damp conditions (where the shed stands, the ground is very damp, and trees grow over the shed and at the back and one side of it, thus keeping the air damp, and air circulation is inhibited to some degree). The growth washes off with Fairy liquid or similar liquid. If it were washed off as well as could be and allowed to dry, would bitumen paint stick to the wood, and even kill off any residue of this green film?
2) Is there any likelihood of the bitumen paint blistering and coming off in parts, when hot sunshine beats down on it? Or, to put the question another way: would bitumen paint be a durable finish that would withstand all of the elements? (If the paint blistered, it might then be necessary to scrape it all off, in order to apply ordinary preservative again. This could prove very difficult.) Therefore, it seems that to use bitumen paint would be to burn my boats, and put me in a worse position, afterwards, than seems to be the case now. This is why I am seeking the advice of others, to avoid making an expensive mistake.
With thanks to anyone that can offer informed advice,
A.W.
However, before embarking on this job, I should like to be sure about some things, and this is the reason for my posting. Here are some questions, and I would be grateful for considered answers to them.
1) The lower parts of the walls are coated with a green growth of some kind. It is not moss, such as grows on damp stones, but is certainly caused by damp conditions (where the shed stands, the ground is very damp, and trees grow over the shed and at the back and one side of it, thus keeping the air damp, and air circulation is inhibited to some degree). The growth washes off with Fairy liquid or similar liquid. If it were washed off as well as could be and allowed to dry, would bitumen paint stick to the wood, and even kill off any residue of this green film?
2) Is there any likelihood of the bitumen paint blistering and coming off in parts, when hot sunshine beats down on it? Or, to put the question another way: would bitumen paint be a durable finish that would withstand all of the elements? (If the paint blistered, it might then be necessary to scrape it all off, in order to apply ordinary preservative again. This could prove very difficult.) Therefore, it seems that to use bitumen paint would be to burn my boats, and put me in a worse position, afterwards, than seems to be the case now. This is why I am seeking the advice of others, to avoid making an expensive mistake.
With thanks to anyone that can offer informed advice,
A.W.