The firm favourite

We hear from the exclusive Ingliston Country Club and Equestrian Centre in Renfrewshire, about what they have been using to protect its timber clad buildings from the extremes of the unpredictable Scottish weather.

SINCE TAKING the reins at the venue in 2007, the Fraser family has transformed the former stud into one of the most highly regarded equestrian centres in Europe, welcoming over 50,000 guests each year. “We host a number of high level competitions such as The Scottish Horse of The Year Show,” explains director Neil Fraser. “However, we are now far more than a purely equestrian business. Our function suites and restaurants are used for a multitude of purposes from private parties to gala balls, corporate events, conferences and weddings.”

With visiting TV crews broadcasting to a worldwide audience every month, and with an ever increasing number of guests taking advantage of the facilities, every effort has to go into keeping all the interiors and exteriors of the buildings in pristine condition.

“Natural wood features a lot in our construction work,” says Neil. “We’ve used timber to build our new stable, the new shower block and to completely clad the interior of our main equestrian arena for instance. We have also, very recently, had fourteen of the highest specification log cabins built on site in order to provide a very luxurious standard of accommodation for our guests.

“We wanted to know how to protect and maintain all our timber effectively and our suppliers recommended Sadolin Quick Drying Woodstain,” says Neil. “We were advised this was a premium water-based woodstain that would provide up to six years decoration and protection. Since then we’ve been using the product extensively, indoors and out, and are really pleased with the ease of application, the colour range and the quality and durability of the finish.”

Andrew Parker, the owner of SK Log Cabin Construction Ltd which completed the log cabin installation, has been an advocate of Sadolin’s woodcare systems for many years. “We’re trained to construct all types of log cabins, sourced from Northern European to North America, but whatever the style and origin, we use Sadolin Q D Woodstain to protect and maintain our timber buildings, without exception,” he confirms, “It’s never let me down yet.”

“There’s a wide range of colours available, ready mixed and tinted, so you can give your clients exactly what they’re looking for. The woodstain doesn’t require any dilution and is ready to go, straight from the tin. When you brush it on you can see how it soaks deep into the wood to protect it, rather than sitting on top and eventually peeling and flaking off. It doesn’t drip as much as an oil-based product, and when you’re applying woodstain to hundreds of square feet of timber, that’s a real bonus as you don’t have to waste time checking for runs and putting them right.”

Andrew and his team are based in Yorkshire but spent five months installing the deluxe twoand
three-bedroomed timber clad lodges at Ingliston. “Sadolin Quick Drying Woodstain really came into its own when we were working in Scotland,” he said. “Because it’s water based, it’s rainproof in under an hour, which is a real boon in such a changeable climate, and you can get the second coat on quickly too. It’s also a versatile product to apply. You can use spray equipment if you like, and that delivers a fine consistent coating. However, because we knew these cabins had to withstand the driving wind and rain, we opted to use brushes to make absolutely sure we got into every last nook and cranny, right down into the joints to give the wood that extra bit of protection.”

Director Neil Fraser is delighted with the work SK Log Cabin Construction Ltd has carried out on the new lodges. “Andrew and his team did a first class job,” he said, “I can’t fault them and would certainly use them again and recommend the company to others. I’d particularly like to thank him for helping us to effectively decorate and protect all our timber buildings here at Ingliston by introducing us to Sadolin Quick Drying Woodstain which is now a mainstay of our maintenance regime.”

For furtherinformation Tel: 0844 7708 998, email info@sadolin.co.uk or visit www.sadolin.co.uk.