Hello

Hot enough for you? Because it’s certainly been hot enough for the timber.

Something we get asked about every dry spell — “Roland, my fence posts have gone a bit wobbly” or “those gaps between my boards weren’t there before.” They’re right, they probably weren’t. Timber is a natural material and it behaves like one. When it’s hot and dry, the wood loses moisture and contracts. Small gaps appear between fence boards, there’s a bit more clearance around gates. If you’ve got clay-heavy ground — and plenty of Wiltshire has — the soil itself shrinks back in a drought, which can leave posts feeling less firm than they were in March.

None of this is a sign that something’s gone wrong. It’s timber doing what timber does. Come the autumn rain, most of it settles back down again. If a post is still shifting come October, give us a ring. But right now I’d give it until the weather breaks first.

Twenty-four years of building with the stuff and I still think it’s the right material for the job. It moves with the seasons. So do we.

Win a Night in the Shepherd’s Hut

We’re giving away one night’s Bed & Breakfast stay for two in our own shepherd’s hut here at Lyneham. Double bed, log burner, proper cooked breakfast included. If you’ve ever been curious what the fuss is about, this is a good way to find out without having to buy one first.

Here’s how to enter — and the more you do, the better your chances:

•       Follow @Bulldog.Sheds.Fencing on Facebook or Instagram

•       Like the Shepherd Hut competition post: Tip, click on photo above!

•       Tag a friend you’d bring along — each tag counts as a separate entry

•       Comment and tell us what you’d use a shepherd’s hut for — a bonus entry for everyone who does

Winner announced 1st September and contacted directly via Instagram or Facebook.

Booking Availability — Don’t Leave It Too Late

We’re busy, which is a good problem to have — but it does mean if you’ve got something in mind before Christmas, now’s the time to get in touch rather than wait.

•       Fencing and gate work: only a handful of slots left before Christmas

•       Timber buildings: booked solid through to November

•       Elite garden rooms: running slightly more ahead — taking orders for early October installation.

If you’ve been sitting on an enquiry, this is your nudge. A quick call is all it takes to get in the diary.

Timber Offcuts — Craft Projects Welcome

We always end up with offcuts and it seems a shame to waste decent timber. So we’re making them available for a nominal £3 a box — bring your own cardboard box, fill it and it’s yours.

Good for rustic frames, craft projects, kindling — whatever you’ve got in mind. Pop in and have a rummage.

£3 a box — bring your own cardboard box. Available while stocks last.

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Enjoy the last of the summer. And if the fence is looking a bit gappy — give it until October. We’ll both know by then whether it needs us.

Roland

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