For our oak swing seats and day beds we select Prime Grade air-dried oak from Hewins Timber - a timber chosen for its exceptional quality, clarity and suitability for fine outdoor joinery. This makes it a superb choice for visible surfaces and refined furniture applications where visual consistency and structural integrity are essential.
Oak is a natural material with a rich character - the grain, subtle tonal variation and occasional small features are intrinsic to its beauty. Air drying allows the timber to season gently and thoroughly, enhancing stability and reducing internal stresses so that the finished piece stands resilient outdoors. Over time, if left untreated, oak will mellow from warm honey tones to a soft, silver-grey patina that sits harmoniously within a garden setting.
We value oak for both its performance and its story. It is strong and durable by nature, capable of withstanding the cycles of sun, rain and frost, and — with simple seasonal care — a well-made oak seat should give years of enjoyment. Our standard guarantee is five years, yet with thoughtful upkeep and a calm, unhurried life in the garden, it is entirely reasonable for such a piece to endure and gently age for a decade and beyond - an object of quiet presence and enduring appeal that only deepens with time.
For our painted ranges, including the Affinity collection, we use Accoya - a high-performance modified timber renowned for its exceptional stability and longevity. Crafted from sustainably sourced wood and enhanced through an advanced acetylation process, Accoya is engineered at a molecular level to resist swelling, shrinking and distortion, even in challenging outdoor conditions.
The result is a timber that holds paint beautifully. Its dimensional stability allows our five-coat spray process - stain block, primer, undercoat and two top coats - to achieve a refined, enduring finish with remarkable colour retention. Where traditional timbers can move with seasonal changes, Accoya remains reassuringly stable, preserving both the integrity of the joinery and the elegance of the painted surface.
Though technologically advanced, Accoya retains the warmth and tactile qualities of natural wood. It is rot resistant, low maintenance and supplied with a 25-year timber warranty from the manufacturer (15 years when used in ground contact). In practice, when thoughtfully cared for, an Accoya swing seat is designed to live outdoors year-round with quiet resilience - offering lasting beauty with minimal intervention.
It is a considered choice: the refinement of paint, underpinned by modern durability, allowing you to enjoy colour in the garden without compromise.
For selected pieces, including elements within our RHS Serenity range, we use Western Red Cedar — a timber long valued for its natural resistance to decay and its suitability for outdoor use. Cedar contains inherent oils and extractives which help it withstand moisture and seasonal change without the need for heavy treatment.
Lighter in weight than oak, Western Red Cedar has a fine, straight grain and a warm spectrum of tones, ranging from soft honey through to deeper russet hues. Its relative stability means it performs well outdoors, and over time, when left untreated, it will weather to a gentle silver-grey, blending quietly into the garden landscape.
As with all natural materials, subtle variation in colour and grain is part of its character. With simple care — keeping the surface clean and allowing it to breathe — a cedar seat can provide many years of enjoyment. It is chosen not for show, but for its quiet practicality and its ability to sit comfortably within both traditional and contemporary garden settings.
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