Grampound with Creed Parish Council Blog: April 2014

The Parish Council wrote to ask for information on whether the bus shelter could be painted or stained and this was the response below. In short it can't be painted or stained but it will fade to the colour shown in the photograph.

Email from Adam O'Neill of CORMAC dated 24th March 2014:

I have spoken with one of the designers for the eco shelters. His comments were as follows:

"The shelter has the following finishes. An anti fungal treatment on all components to prevent the attachment of airborne fungal black spot that can in windless damp condition create an unsighly growth. In addtion the seat has had an acrylic lacquer to resist fluids being soaked into the bench. Any stain would now not be constant in its finish due to these treatments. However to address the issue of the colour of the shelter, it will naturally age like all pines and in due course over a number of years go a silver grey. See attached a picture of a sample that has aged naturally.

In the meantime the shelter can be kept clean by simply washing down with warm soapy water and a firm brush. If a jetwash is used be careful not to get the nozzle close to the grain. Keep it at least 300mm away to prevent the jet furrying up the grain. If any writing on the shelter needs removing, first try a rub with household cleaning products to see if the ink will lift out. Otherwise use a sharp single handed 'block plane' to plane off the text and then just a light sanding to blend in the surface. With this in mind the shelter will age like all wooden buildings, but without the rot associated with pine, as these shelters are made from an acetylated timber that has been rendered inorganic and inedible to fungi, insects and bacteria."

I had a further chat with him on the phone. He said if the shelter was further stained, the stain itself is likely to ‘rub off’ onto clothes and may hinder the natural greying process. With regards to his second paragraph, Cornwall Council own and maintain the eco shelters.