Maintenance with hardwood window frames?

chrisw

I've had a hardwood conservatory for about 12 years but I would go with upvc next time. Even though I've painted it religiously, some of the joints have opened up due to contraction / expansion, water has got in and they are starting to rot at the joints. This is particularly in the corners where 2 cills and an upright meet. The doors swell up and contract with the weather as well so sometimes they stick and other times there is a gap.