The Material Upgrade To Redwood Timber

At Pentagon Play, our commitment to sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that creating safe, engaging, and fun playgrounds for children should not come at the expense of our planet. This is why we have made a conscious decision to use the most sustainable materials available in the production of our playground equipment.

One key natural product we have chosen is Redwood Timber. Known for its durability and natural resistance to decay, Redwood Timber is an excellent choice for outdoor play structures. But beyond its practical benefits, Redwood Timber is also a highly sustainable option. It is sourced from responsibly managed forests where trees are replanted and harvested in a way that maintains the ecological balance.

By using Redwood Timber, we are not only ensuring that our playgrounds are built to last, but we are also reducing our environmental footprint. This aligns with our broader mission to promote environmental stewardship and to inspire the next generation to value and protect the natural world. 

At Pentagon Play, we are proud to be leading the way in sustainable playground design, creating spaces where children can play, learn, and grow in harmony with nature.

What is Redwood Timber?

Redwood Timber, also known as Scots Pine or Pinus Sylvestris, is a durable and decay-resistant wood primarily sourced from Scandinavia. It is widely used in the timber and joinery trades for making mouldings and beadings, despite its name suggesting a Scottish origin, it is rarely sourced from Scotland being a Scandinavian redwood. 

The process of producing Scandinavian Redwood begins with the careful selection of Scots Pine trees, primarily from sustainably managed forests in Scandinavia. Once selected, the trees are felled and transported to sawmills where they are debarked and cut into logs. These logs are then sawn into various sizes and shapes, depending on their intended use.

Next, the Scandinavian Redwood timber undergoes a drying process, either by being air dried or kiln dried, to reduce moisture content and enhance durability. This step is crucial as it prevents warping and increases the wood’s resistance to decay.

After drying, the timber is planed and the planed timber then has a preservative treatment to further enhance its longevity and resistance to pests.

Finally, the finished Scandinavian Redwood Timber is ready for use in various applications and sawn into finished sizes to be used for playground equipment, mouldings, and beadings for example.

What are the Benefits of Scandinavian Redwood Timber?

Scandinavian Redwood Timber, a wonderful natural product and is a highly valued material in the timber and joinery trades, renowned for its numerous benefits. Here are some of the key advantages of using Redwood Timber:

• Durability and Strength: One of the most significant benefits of Scandinavian Redwood Timber is its durability. This wood is naturally resistant to decay and pests, making it an excellent choice for outdoor applications. Its strength and durability guarantee that structures made from Redwood Timber provide long-lasting performance by enduring harsh weather conditions and heavy use.  
• Sustainability: Redwood Timber is sourced from sustainably managed forests, primarily in Scandinavia. These forests are carefully monitored to ensure that the harvesting process does not harm the environment. Trees are replanted to maintain ecological balance, making Scandinavian Redwood Timber an environmentally friendly choice. By using Redwood Timber Pentagon Play is supporting sustainable forestry practices, reducing the carbon footprint that is linked to construction materials.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Scandinavian Redwood Timber is known for its attractive appearance. One of its key features is that is has a warm, reddish-brown colour that can enhance the visual appeal of any project. The wood’s fine grain and smooth texture make it a popular choice for both structural and decorative applications. Redwood Timber adds a wonderful natural product and touch to any playground equipment, furniture, or interior joinery!
• Versatility: This timber is highly versatile and can be used in a wide range of applications. It is commonly used for making mouldings, beadings, and other joinery products. Its workability allows it to be machined and easily cut, shaped, and finished to meet specific design requirements. Being so versatile it makes Redwood Time the favoured material for many trade, construction and woodworking projects.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to other high-quality timbers, Redwood Timber is relatively cost-effective. Its availability and ease of processing contribute to its affordability. Despite its lower cost, it does not compromise on quality, making it an excellent value for money. Due to this Scandinavian Redwood is a very accessible material to use for many projects, from large-scale construction projects to small DIY jobs.
• Environmental Benefits: Using Redwood Timber has several environmental benefits. As a renewable resource, it helps reduce reliance on non-renewable materials. The carbon sequestration properties of trees mean that using timber products can help mitigate climate change by storing Carbon Dioxide. Also, the production process for Redwood Timber has a lower environmental impact than that of synthetic materials.
• Health and Safety: Scandinavian Redwood Timber is a safe material to use, especially in environments where children are in contact with the material, such as playgrounds. It does not contain harmful chemicals or toxins, making it a healthier option compared to some treated woods or synthetic materials. As it has a natural resistance to decay, fewer chemicals are used in treating it, therefore increasing its safety profile.

Scandinavian Redwood Timber offers a combination of durability, sustainability, aesthetic appeal (colour and grain), versatility, cost-effectiveness, environmental benefits, and safety.

These attributes make it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, from playground equipment to interior joinery, ensuring that projects are not only beautiful and functional but also environmentally responsible.

Can You Use Redwood Timber For Play Equipment?

Scandinavian Redwood Timber is ideal for play equipment due to its exceptional durability and weather resistance. Its natural strength ensures structures can withstand heavy use, making it perfect for schools and nurseries.

Additionally, Redwood Timber’s resistance to decay and insects guarantees long-lasting, safe play environments for children in contact with the timber, which is a huge plus for schools and nurseries in the UK!

Here are some examples of how Redwood Timber is used:

Outdoor Applications

Redwood Timber is gaining popularity in various outdoor applications due to its remarkable properties. Its natural durability and resistance to decay make it an excellent choice for outdoor furniture, ensuring that pieces remain sturdy and attractive even after years of exposure to the elements. This timber’s aesthetic appeal, with its rich, warm tones, adds a touch of elegance to any garden, patio setting.

Decks and Fences

In addition to furniture, Redwood Timber is widely used for decks and fences. Its strength and stability provide a reliable foundation for decks, which can endure heavy foot traffic and harsh weather conditions without warping or splintering. Fences made from Redwood Timber not only offer privacy and security but also enhance the visual appeal of a property with their natural beauty.

Construction

The construction industry also benefits from Redwood Timber’s versatility. Its lightweight yet strong nature makes it easy to work with, reducing labour costs and time. Builders appreciate its ability to withstand the rigors of construction while maintaining its structural integrity over time.

Educational Settings

The same qualities that make it ideal for furniture, decks, and fences—durability, weather resistance, and aesthetic appeal—also make it perfect for creating safe, long-lasting play structures. Schools and nurseries will likely adopt Redwood Timber more extensively, ensuring that playgrounds are not only fun but also safe and sustainable for future generations.

What Pentagon Play Equipment Is Made From Redwood Timber?

Pentagon Play has recently started manufacturing a range of play equipment that leverages the unique benefits of Scandinavian Redwood Timber. 

Known for its exceptional durability and weather resistance, Redwood Timber ensures that our play structures can withstand heavy use and harsh weather conditions, making them ideal for schools and nurseries. The natural strength of Redwood Timber also provides a safe and sturdy environment for children to play.

Our current range includes various play structures, from climbing frames to outdoor classrooms, all designed to offer engaging and safe play experiences. The aesthetic appeal of Redwood Timber, with its rich, warm tones, adds a touch of natural beauty to any playground setting.

As we continue to recognise the advantages of Redwood Timber, we aim to expand our use of this fantastic material in more of our playground equipment. By doing so, we are committed to providing long-lasting, sustainable, and visually appealing play environments that children will enjoy for years to come.

Outdoor Gazebos

All of Pentagon Play’s Outdoor Gazebos are now constructed from Redwood Timber, a material renowned for its exceptional durability and weather resistance. This is why we use Redwood Timber for our Gazebos:

1. It's Strong

This upgrade ensures that our gazebos can withstand the elements and heavy use, making them a reliable choice for outdoor play and learning environments. Redwood Timber’s natural strength and resistance to decay and insects mean that these structures will remain in excellent condition for decades, providing a safe and sturdy space for children to enjoy.

2. It's Got Aesthetic Appeal

The aesthetic appeal of Redwood Timber, with its rich, warm tones, adds a touch of natural beauty to any outdoor setting, enhancing the overall look of playgrounds and schoolyards. This not only creates an inviting atmosphere but also ensures that the gazebos blend seamlessly with their surroundings.

3. It's Secure

When it comes to sheltered structures, durability and safety are paramount. These structures need to withstand various weather conditions and heavy use, ensuring they remain reliable and secure over time. Redwood Timber is an ideal choice due to its exceptional strength and resistance to decay and insects. 

4. It's Durable

This makes it a safe and long-lasting material for constructing sheltered spaces. Its natural durability ensures that structures like gazebos and outdoor classrooms remain in excellent condition for years, providing a safe and inviting environment for children and adults alike. This makes Redwood Timber an even more appealing option for such applications.

By choosing Redwood Timber for our Outdoor Gazebos, Pentagon Play is committed to offering long-lasting, sustainable, and visually appealing play equipment and building. This investment in quality materials reflects our dedication to providing the best possible play environments for children, ensuring that our Gazebos remain a valuable and attractive feature for years to come.

Pentagon's Nature and Planting Range

Pentagon Play’s entire Nature and Planting Range is crafted from Scandinavian Redwood Timber, ensuring that each piece of equipment is incredibly durable and well-crafted.

This range includes planters, raised beds, and other gardening structures designed to engage children with nature. This is why we use Redwood Timber for our Nature and Planting Range:

1. It's Strong and Durable

The use of Redwood Timber is crucial for these applications, as it provides the necessary strength and durability to withstand the rigors of outdoor use.

2. It's Resistant

Redwood Timber’s natural resistance to decay and insects makes it an ideal material for equipment that will be exposed to the elements. Whether it’s heavy rain, strong winds, or intense sunlight, Redwood Timber maintains its integrity, ensuring that the structures remain safe and functional for years. This weather resistance is particularly important for nature and planting equipment, which needs to endure constant exposure to varying conditions.

3. It's Safe

Moreover, the robust nature of Redwood Timber means that it can handle heavy use, whether from enthusiastic children or the weight of soil and plants. This ensures that the equipment remains stable and secure, providing a reliable and safe environment for children to explore and learn about nature. 

By choosing Redwood Timber, Pentagon Play guarantees that their Nature and Planting Range is not only aesthetically pleasing but also built to last, offering long-term value and enjoyment.

Metres of Willow Fencing

Pentagon Play’s Willow Fencing, crafted from Redwood Timber, is an ideal outdoor fencing solution for schools across the UK. This is why we use Redwood Timber for our Willow Fencing:

1. It's Durable and Weather Resistant

Redwood Timber is renowned for its exceptional durability and weather resistance, making it perfect for environments that require robust and long-lasting materials. School fences need to withstand constant exposure to the elements, from heavy rain and strong winds to fluctuating temperatures. Redwood Timber’s natural resistance to decay and insects ensures that our Willow Fencing remains sturdy and reliable over time, providing a safe and secure boundary for school grounds.

2. It's Strong

The strength of Redwood Timber means that our fencing can handle the daily wear and tear of a busy school environment, maintaining its structural integrity and appearance for years. This durability reduces the need for frequent repairs or replacements, offering schools a cost-effective and low-maintenance fencing solution.

3. It's Aesthetically Appealing

Additionally, the aesthetic appeal of Redwood Timber, with its rich, warm tones, enhances the visual appeal of school environments. The natural beauty of the wood blends seamlessly with outdoor settings, creating a welcoming and attractive atmosphere for students and staff alike.

By choosing Redwood Timber for our Willow Fencing, Pentagon Play is committed to providing schools with a high-quality, long-lasting, and visually pleasing fencing option that meets the demands of both safety and aesthetics.

Embrace the Benefits of Redwood Timber Today!

Schools, holiday parks, leisure centres, and other clients will immediately notice the significant improvements in quality, durability, and safety with the introduction of Scandinavian Redwood Timber in Pentagon Play’s products. Redwood Timber’s exceptional properties make it an ideal material for various outdoor applications, ensuring that our play equipment, fencing, and other structures are built to last.

As we continue to recognize the advantages of Redwood Timber, Pentagon Play is committed to expanding its use across our product range. Clients can look forward to more of our equipment being upgraded to this fantastic material, ensuring long-lasting, sustainable, and visually appealing solutions for their outdoor needs. 

Stay tuned for future updates to Pentagon Play’s webpage, where we will announce any new products that receive the Redwood Timber upgrade. We are excited to share these enhancements with our clients and look forward to providing even better play environments for children and families.