News: PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING EXEMPTION FOR PERGOLA PAINTING

During 2026, owners wishing to opt out of the pergola scheme must maintain their pergolas and notify the management by email, providing photographs showing their condition before and after maintenance.

Once the work has been verified, the owner will be informed that their request has been registered and approved. The owner and the management must retain documentary evidence of this.

This information is important for the supplier, as the total number of properties to be maintained may not correspond to 100 per cent of the homes in the Owners’ Association.

Notice of withdrawal from the scheme must be given by 31 December 2026.

An email stating your wish to withdraw from the scheme must be sent to: catherine.demarteau@inmho.es

After that date, the pergolas on properties for which no such notice has been received will be maintained by the Owners’ Association.

SCOPE AND PROCEDURE FOR PERGOLA MAINTENANCE

Homeowners wishing to opt out of the pergola maintenance scheme must carry out maintenance on all the timber beams belonging to their property.

In the case of pergolas that form part of a party wall, or are shared between two properties, maintenance must be carried out on both sides of the beam, a requirement that also applies to the successful tenderer.

As regards the procedure, it must be borne in mind that wood is an organic material highly susceptible to damage caused by damp, insect infestation, fungi and even sunlight. All these factors will cause the wood to look unsightly and may even result in irreversible structural damage.

It is for this reason that, before commencing treatment and painting work on pergolas, each and every component of the pergola must be inspected in order to determine which elements are damaged and need replacing, such as posts, beams or cross-beams.

Once the above has been carried out and the possibility of collapse due to irreversible deterioration has been ruled out, the following

steps are set out below for proper maintenance, which is the purpose of this quotation:

• Sand gently with 80-grit sandpaper, always in the direction of the grain.
• Clean off any dirt with water or a pressure washer.
• Remove any resulting dust and leave to dry for 12–24 hours.
• Apply 2 to 4 coats of open-pore wood stain until the desired colour and finish are achieved. The chosen shade should be similar to the current one: Rosewood or Ebony.
• In these cases, apply wood filler to fill holes, cracks and the joints between the wooden crossbeams and the wall.

Wood stains or lasures: the material chosen for the final finish is of vital importance. This is currently the most widely used option and the one recommended by professionals. They are also known as open-pore protectants.

Unlike varnishes, wood stains do not form a film but penetrate deep into the wood.

This allows the wood to release its own moisture, and prevents the finish from cracking or flaking. Furthermore, it repels water and protects against the sun. It requires periodic reapplication to maintain its protective effect on exposed wood.

Thank you for your cooperation.

The Administration and presidents of Jardines II