Every tree is different in form, colour and grain colour differences will usually become less pronounced over time, but a consistent flat colour without variation will never be achieved.

The cell structure in timber stores water which is gradually released or absorbed depending on the level of temperature and humidity. This effectively changes the volume of the timber and naturally, the parts closest to the surface will dry more quickly than those closer to the centre. Splitting in the timber is part of the natural drying process in hot weather and in some cases; these splits may reduce or ‘heal’ in wetter conditions and should not be viewed as flaws. Expect treated timber to shrink by as much as 8% in width and 0.3% in length. Due to the natural structure of the timber, these changes can sometimes cause some twisting or distortion which we are unable to predict but have no effect on the structural integrity of the finished article.

Knots are present where branches have been cut from the tree before it is peeled and sawn. Knots should be expected on finished products, but we do carefully select our timber to minimise their presence.

Resins occur naturally within softwoods and in the process of drying, may rise to the surface. Resin causes no harm to the timber and can be removed if required by scraping when it hardens or wiped off with a rag soaked in turpentine.

Sawing is used to ‘square’ the timber and achieve a uniform size, within tolerances. It is sawn in high volume in high-speed mills the timbers will have loose fibres on the surface and may exhibit some marking from the saw blade.

You may occasionally see small blue, green or white spots on the surface of the timber. These are tiny specks of resin on the timber surface that which are not detrimental to the product and can usually be wiped off with a damp cloth.

The small patches of ‘rough’ timber are the result of fraying which sometimes occurs on sections of wood where the fibres naturally run against the working direction of a planer or saw blade during processing. Fraying will not affect the performance of the finished product.

To clean Timber products, we recommend a gentle washing with slightly soapy water and sponge. A very light abrasive such as a nylon kitchen scourer can be used along the grain. Do not rub across the grain as it is likely to leave marks. A cold water pressure washer (such as Karcher) can be used, but care must be taken not to damage the surface of the timber.