As companies consider their Corporate Social Responsibility, more sustainable products are available. Consumers now have more choice and don’t have to sacrifice responsibility for design. Now we can have the best of both worlds.

Sustainable materials lessen the burden on nature of manufacture and transport. A long life span reduces replacement and maintenance. And the product should fit into the ecological balance of the garden rather than disturb it. Wood is natural. Concrete is not.

Robust wooden pergolas, verandas and decking give your garden extra body. The thick beams of wood will not easily be overlooked. Now we’re considering , what is our choice? Douglas fir is commonly used, as a reasonably hard and durable coniferous wood, but will succumb to requiring regular maintenance and rot unless treated with toxic chemicals. Then there are traditional hardwoods like oak. But these are old-world, slow growing woods, which will suffer a similar fate of maintenance and rot. Let’s look to the future. Try Accoya® acetylated wood. A fast growing pine that after acetylation (non-toxic modification) outperforms the competition in terms of sustainability and durability. With durability class 1 that can withstand rotting in the ground for over 25 years and above ground for 50 years, no hardwood can come close. Accoya guarantees a long life span.

Then you will want some cover. A shady spot, protecting you from the bright sun while enjoying your garden. Even in winter you can sit outside with a fire or heat lamps and keep an unobstructed view of your garden. Outside is the new inside. If you take a sunshade, you can lose part or all the view towards your garden. A good quality pergola or terrace roof can have a long life when using the right materials. If you take care of the necessary cleaning yourself, you can enjoy your terrace roof for many years. Almost half of new patio roofs are made of wood due to the many advantages wood provides.