Specialised builder supplier Garden Affairs has released its Scotts range of Summerhouses in Red Grandis - a hardwood, which will replace the pressure-impregnated European Redwood that was previously used for this range.

For all the added benefits of upgrading to a hardwood, your pocket won't suffer: there are no price hikes, and no longer lead times!

And you'll enjoy the peace of mind of a 10-year timber guarantee against rot, fungal decay and termite attack, increased to 20 years if you buy your hardwood summerhouse with a factory-applied paint or stain.

So we thought we'd take a few moments to explain some of the benefits of hardwood, and why it's fabulous for use outdoors.

Durability

Centuries-old churches, wood-beamed cottages, antique dining-room tables. They've lasted for generations. And they have one thing in common: they're made from a hardwood, like oak, mahogany or teak. Hardwood's longevity is all down to its durability. It comes from slow-growing broad-leaved trees.

For wood nerds out there, it's all about the lignin. This hard material is what supports plants above the ground, and it's more abundant in hardwood. The more lignin, the harder, and more durable, the wood.

Hardwood is naturally weather resistant, easy to maintain and hard wearing. Of course, it will eventually weather and change colour, so painting or staining is recommended, and easy enough to do.


But with a hardwood summerhouse, you'll get a higher life expectancy and lower maintenance. You'll be investing in a garden building to pass on to the next generation.

Stability

The more dimensionally stable a wood, the less likely it is to be affected by changes in the weather. The main factors influencing this stability are the grain pattern and species of tree.

Most hardwood trees are slow-growing, resulting in a dense wood, with tightly-packed grain. This is what gives them their hardness and durability. The straightness of the grain is important for stability, as is the chemical make-up inside the wood to protect it against moisture and rot.

Not all hardwoods offer dimensional stability, so it's important to choose carefully when selecting a timber for an outdoor building. Oak and ash are hardwoods with high stability, whereas maple and hickory are less stable species.

Sustainability

Wood is environmentally-friendly because it's renewable - unlike a fossil-fuel based product like plastic. But a big no-no for the eco-conscious is when wood isn't responsibly farmed.

The key environmental quality to look for in a wooden building material is the sustainability of the timber. Look for official certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) of the wood's sustainable source. By doing so, you'll be safeguarding forests for the future, and their crucial role in soaking up carbon emissions.

When forests are harvested more quickly than they're replanted, there's a worrying impact both on supply and climate change. The quicker we cut down our forests without replanting them, the more damage we're doing to the future of the planet.

Hardwood trees are currently in good supply, and with sustainable harvesting and replanting policies in place, they should remain that way - new trees need time to grow and mature.

Hardwood does take longer to grow and to dry, it's also heavier and requires more energy to transport. So fewer eco-points there. But its longer life expectancy does help to offset its higher environmental impact. So by choosing a garden building made from FSC-certified hardwood, you'll be making an environmentally responsible choice.

Our hardwood summerhouses from our Scotts range are made from Red Grandis, a premium quality, straight-grained hardwood, which is:

• dimensionally stable;

• ethically sourced, 100% FSC-certified;

• highly durable, with a long life span fungi and insect resistant;

• easily stained or painted.

Visit our Display Centre to see these superb quality hardwood summerhouses for yourself, visit our summerhouse gallery for inspiration or give us a call on 01225 774566 to enquire about our hardwood summerhouses now.

www.gardenaffairs.co.uk