How to keep this shed wall upright a little longer - plastic cladding?

[Jildedgreen]

Hi,

The neighbour is about to put a continuation of the fence you see on the right against the back of our very old shed you see in the photos, it’s the wooden part and also that strange green part. Any ideas how to help the wall stay intact for at least a couple more years - bearing in mind the neighbour’s wall will likely accelerate the rot if we leave it just as is.

Someone who looked at it thought to get it treated/stained, then plastic cladding on top of that, but he now can’t do the job - do you guys think that sounds about right, and if so any links to what he might have meant by plastic cladding, ie pics or places we can buy it. Or perhaps something else would be better?

(Ideally we need to replace the shed but now’s not good timing, and the fence goes up in the next couple of weeks.)

Additionally, that part of the wall you see on the left next to it, is shortly to be rerendered, and the neighbour will put up a lower fence against that. Is there anything we ought to do to stop that wall being more susceptible to damp etc, it now having a fence against it.

Many thanks.

I think all you can do is let it dry out and treat it with an outdoor wood preserver or paint. It takes a long time for wood to actually crumble, although that is very rotten. Be careful that the roof is supported.

I don't see that plastic cladding will do anything. I would have thought it might actually make it worse. I would not spend any money trying to save that wood, it's gone.

You could try putting roofing felt on it? It is on its last legs though.

Thank you very much for your replies, much appreciated. Is there an argument for leaving it alone altogether do you think. I spoke to and sent the photos to a local handyman just after I posted and before any replies, and he thought with it being plywood there was a chance that doing wood treatment now might have more chance of sealing moisture in and accelerating the rotting.

Roof felt was a very interesting suggestion too. I wonder again if in this case there’s a chance it might work against the wood in its current state.

What do you think. If wood treatment or roof felt is on balance better than no action, any suggestions for what in particular to buy.

Thank you very much again.

Roof felt was a very interesting suggestion too. I wonder again if in this case there’s a chance it might work against the wood in its current state.

I think it would.

with it being plywood there was a chance that doing wood treatment now might have more chance of sealing moisture in and accelerating the rotting.

That's why I suggested letting it dry first. If we get a good 2-3 week dry spell over summer it won't be too wet inside.

If you really are going to treat it then anti-rot wood preservative might be best.

Personally I would spend the time and money on replacing it instead. If I absolutely had to I'd just use up left over tins of any old paint or varnish.