Wood Properties

Before purchasing a wooden playhouse, it's important to understand the natural characteristics of wood. What should you expect? What’s normal, and what might indicate an issue? Wood is a natural material, and some variations are simply part of its unique charm - though they may sometimes be mistaken for flaws. To help you feel confident in your purchase, we’ve outlined some common wood properties below.

Colour difference

Each tree has a different shape, size and colour. No tree is identical. For this reason, colour differences are logical. By the way, these colour difference might also arise during processing. In the course of time they will disappear by the influence of sunlight. Be aware that untreated wood, such as all Douglas garden furniture and playground equipment, will become grey in the course of time due to weather influences. This grey colour can, if desired, be avoided by slightly sandpapering and resining the wood.

Resin drops: 

During storage and processing the wood will begin to “warp”, which might result into resin drops with softwood. It’s a natural phenomenon. If desired, you can remove these drops by means of turpentine.

Mould and blue deposit:

Especially in summer / in hot weather so-called blue deposit could appear. This mould doesn’t influence the strength of the wood and can easily be washed down by means of water. If you don’t do anything, the fungus will automatically disappear due to weather influences.

Salt formation on  impregnated wood

Wood which is impregnated under high pressure contains  salt, avoiding the wood to be affected by moulds and insects. Now and then you will notice green or white spots (also big spots): resin coloured by these salts. These issues don’t influence the sustainability of the wood. After some time it will disappear automatically.

Cracks and splits

During the drying process or during dry periods, cracks and splits might arise due to a non-uniform wood structure, especially with round wood. Dependent on the weather conditions (e.g. rain, dry weather, sun or shadow) the wood might be cracked to a greater or lesser extent. These cracks and splits are allowed according to the DIN 4074 norm.