Our climbing frames are crafted from Southern Yellow Pine, sustainably grown in the forests of Louisiana. This timber is chosen for its unique cellular structure, which gives it exceptional strength and durability.
This means a lower density and greater permeability, meaning the wood preserving treatment (more about that below) can go all the way through to the core. Therefore, 100% of the timber is treated. How so? Well, these trees experience longer and warmer summers than we do, and being grown in managed forests, each tree has the ideal amount of sunlight and space which allows it to grow.
When the timber is undergoing the pressure treatment, the preserver can penetrate quickly and focus its efforts on getting to the heartwood (the central part of the tree). This pine also allows a great movement of moisture - the ability for moisture to move in and out of timber is important, remember that rot and mold love moist and dark conditions.
A distinct characteristic of this pine is the colour - a beautiful rich yellow to begin with which you see on the right of the climbing frame. As the seasons pass, you’ll begin to notice a subtle silvering as the wood patinas and ages. Over time, you'll may notice shakes in the timber, this is perfectly natural and adds to the beauty of the timber (we've got more information about shakes and checks on our portfolio).
Here you can also see the modularity of our climbing frames, it really is that simple to add to it at a later date.
We installed this Jungle Twin Clubhouse in Upavon, Wiltshire, you can read more about it on our portfolio.
We’ve used Southern Yellow Pine for many years, and have never used steel feet on any of our installations (we’ve been installing since 1996). Our timber is pressure treated to UC4B standard, meaning the treatment is intended for below ground contact and freshwater in specifically critical components.
Little Broad Chalke is part of a bigger play area in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire. You can find out about this project here.
We’re passionate about using the very best materials, and our timber really is different to what you might expect. We use a very particular species of wood, which consumes 3 times the amount of tannalising treatment than typical European species, this means our sets really do stand the test of time, and do not rot in the usual 10 years! They also benefit from an antimicrobial coating, meaning even less maintenance!
This large play area is located at Cameron House, Loch Lomond.
Another benefit is that our sets require very little maintenance. We recommend using an algaecide spray once every 5 years. No scrubbing, pressure-washing or elbow grease required! In a usual lifespan of our sets, this means applying algaecide only 3 times!
Most of us care about how our community looks and choosing a natural wooden climbing frame is often the favoured option, but it shouldn't come at a cost of longevity. Our climbing frames provide the natural aesthetic with a beautiful aging process, whilst lasting for decades of fun and adventure!
We can help bring your imagination to life, tailoring our service to you and design the wow factor playground you'd like (and need).
