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Maintenance Strategies
Maintenance of timber is crucial to the long term serviceability of timber structures. Timber protected by overhanging structures requires little or no maintenance, but where exposed to the weather some form of maintenance during the life of the structure is important. Design philosophy here gives three options:

1. Over design the element so it needs no maintenance during its life.
   
2. Maintain elements as demanded.
   
3. Design the elements so that they are cyclically maintained.

Of these, strategy one is least preferred, while strategy three is most preferred. Strategy two clearly offers an intermediate option. Having said this, the choice between all three will be influenced by access to the timber and budgetary constraints.