22 September 2023

Timber – A Building Material

Consumer Information

You are embarking on a journey of constructing a long-term product for your home. You should allow time to understand and check the instructions, parts and nature of the materials that you will be using, this may take hours to days depending on the size of the project that you are undertaking. The assembly process will vary according to individual abilities and complexity of the project. Any indication given in our website or literature as to time required to assemble a product must be deemed as approximate as wood is a natural product and may require manipulation prior to assembly. In the event that some of the timbers are warped and prove difficult to assemble, competent manipulation, e.g. light wetting, sensible weight application and slowly (over a few days if necessary) heating or cooling can overcome the majority of warping to allow assembly.

Wood is a natural product and all trees are different with different properties. These properties can include colour differences, warping, twisting, shakes, splits, knots, knot holes and varying surface finishes and are part of the natural properties of this type of material. These properties are normal for externally used timber, and cannot be guaranteed against. Sometimes deep and wide shakes and cracks can appear unsightly but we have calculated for these in our designs. Minor adjustments may have to be undertaken on site due to the nature of timber.

The Most Important:

It is most likely that the product you are purchasing from us will be made from timber which is commonly used in temperate and arctic conditions. Timber is a beautiful material to purchase and to build with however, even once it is chopped up in logs and no longer treelike it is still very much living and controlled by the uncontrollable. The uncontrollable being one of the most talked about topics in the UK – the weather! Come rain or shine, treated or untreated, hot or cold, timber will react in weird and wonderful ways.

Timber will:

Crack
Warp
Twist
Split
Shrink and contract
Swell and expand

We understand how important your purchase will be to you and the excitement of the many wonderful ways you will use and decorate your product however below is some general advice and guidance:

If your product is untreated, please treat as soon as reasonably possible to maintain the longevity. If your product is treated you can apply a water repellent to reduce the amount of splitting caused by the weather.
Sap is formed naturally by trees and in some cases, you can see it coming out of the wood. It is a natural product and can be removed using soapy water however your local DIY shop will likely stock specialist products.

Log Cabins

You will likely have to (regardless of who installs the product and what log cabin you purchase):

Perform maintenance such as repack window and doors, adjusting storm braces and tapping down logs
Manipulate the timber if warped or twisted (wetting and weighting works a treat!)
Regularly ventilate log cabins
We recommend that if you intend to fix items to the walls that they do not attach over several wall logs. This can restrict the natural expansion and contraction of the product and create gaps.
Regularly clear the roof of any debris to avoid water pooling on the roof
Some customers like to modify their product by covering the floor however we would recommend that you check with your chosen floor covering supplier that it is suitable to fit over the top of spruce floorboards. This could potentially lead to rotting floor boards.
A square, level and plumb base. No run offs, no unevenness, nice and sturdy and capable of supporting the weight of the product.

Climbing Frames

You will likely have to carry out maintenance on your climbing frame regardless if you or a 3rd party install your climbing frame:

The timber will naturally crack however you can apply a water repellent to reduce the amount of splitting caused by the weather.
Check all nuts and bolts and tighten when required. Check screws and replace any fixings if they have sheared.
Check timber parts for evidence and deterioration and purchase replacements when required, remember cracks will naturally appear!
Remove any swinging ancillaries to avoid damage in abnormal weather conditions.

Garden Offices

You will likely have to (regardless of who installs the garden office)

Adjust the patio door bogey wheel (using a screwdriver)
Keep it well ventilated to allow any wet works to dry (much like a new house)
Keep drainage holes clear and free from debris

Other Products (we sell lots of other products however have narrowed down to the key points)

Some customers like to modify their product by covering the floor however we would recommend that you check with your chosen floor covering supplier that it is suitable to fit over the top of spruce floorboards. This could potentially lead to rotting floor boards.

A square, level and plumb base. No run offs, no unevenness, nice and sturdy and capable of supporting the weight of the product.
Ensure that any brackets are fitted at the correct height for the roof to sit properly.