Here are some explanations of the terms and descriptions we use on this website. If you have any technical questions or require any additional product information at all please see our Get in Touch section and one of our customer service team will be happy to help.
Home Delivery & Installation
Whilst you can’t buy products directly from this website you can see the list of stores and online retailers that stock our products, we also show our SRP– Suggested Retail Price. The majority of our products are available for Home Delivery within 5 working days.
If you have ordered one of our products you can use the My Order section of the website to book in your delivery, our pick-a-day option gives you time to clear and prepare your garden before your product is delivered on a day of your choosing. If you’d rather take a back seat when it comes to building, don’t worry. Our Assembly Service, available on selected products, means your new purchase is in safe hands and you can leave all the hard work of assembly and heavy lifting to us.
For more details on our Assembly Service, tips or installing our products and preparing bases see our Help & Support section.
Timber
Most of the timber we use will be Northern European mixed softwoods, this can mean species including Spruce, Larch and Pine.
All of this mixed softwood is obtained from sustainable and well managed forests and our range is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council®, the majority of our products proudly carry the FSC® logo – so you know that our timber is ethically sourced.
Rough Sawn: Timber as it has been cut by the sawmill, it has a more rustic and rough aesthetic.
Smooth Planed: Timber that has been cut by the sawmill and then planed to remove the rough surface, giving a smoother finish.
Kiln Dried: Timber is dried in a kiln to reduce its moisture content, this resultant timber is a higher end, more stable product which is less susceptible to movement or warping.
Waney Edge: A traditional style, each board has one waney edge as it’s been sliced straight from the tree and one straight edge.
Square Edge or Straight Cut: Boards that have both edges cut, meaning the waney edge of the board has been cut off so that the board has a straight finish.
Terminology
Apex: A building or product with an Apex roof means there is a ridge running along the length of it with the roof sections sloping upwards from either side of the eaves meeting at the ridge. The highest point will be in the middle, running front to back.
Pent: A Pent building or product has a single sloping roof section usually sloping down towards the back, allowing rain water to run off it. This creates more room at the front.
Reverse Apex: A Reverse Apex building is similar to an Apex one, the main difference is that the door and any windows are situated on the wider side of the building, rather than at the end underneath the ridge. The highest point will run side to side.
Ridge: The highest point of the roof of the building, where the sloping sides join at the top
Eaves: The eaves height is the distance between the ground and the top of the walls of the building. The roof of the building normally overhangs beyond the side of a building to allow water to run off.
Gable End: The triangular section of the wall at the end of an Apex building, occupying the space between the slopes of the roof.
Dimensions
You will see dimensions quoted next to our product listings. We generally quote Height, Width and Depth in cm.
We give overall dimensions which is to the highest/widest point of the product. For sheds we quote to the top of the ridge (rather than any decorative finial that may add a few cms in height) and we quote the overall width and depth – this includes any overhangs. All of the exact technical details and sizes regarding each product are listed within the Detailed Specification section on each product page.
For some products we use Imperial dimensions in the descriptions. Traditionally we find that people like to look for a 6ft x 4ft shed or a 6ft fence panel, sometimes these measurements can be slightly rounded. We always quote the exact size in metric so make sure you check precise dimensions.
Construction
Different products our constructed using different methods, or different types of cladding.
Overlap: This traditional rustic style is created with overlapping boards to allow rain water to run off. It can be constructed with overlapping square cut or waney edge boards. This construction allows flexibility and movement of the timber. As temperature and humidity levels change from season to season the boards will shrink and expand.
Shiplap: Designed to last and made of smooth-planed slow grown kiln dried timber. Shiplap constructions use interlocking Tongue & Groove boards that feature a scalloped profile at the top of each board which gives a distinctive and traditional aesthetic. The tongue and grooves slot into each other to create a reliable weatherproof joint, less likely to bend and warp.
Tongue & Groove: Interlocking smooth-planed Tongue & Groove boards that have a flat profile for a contemporary look. The tight-fitting nature of the construction offers good protection from wind and rain penetration. This cladding is secure and durable and boards will often be thicker than other types of construction.
Battens: Supporting Timber that forms the framing of a fence panel, providing a more durable structure.
Bearers: Pressure Treated timber battens, nailed to the bottom of floor boards, that isolate the floor from the ground, preventing damage from moisture and allowing good air circulation under a structure.
Cover Strips: Timber battens that cover and protect where 2 panels join, providing a neat finish and protection from the elements.
Barge Boards: Used to finish off the roof of products. These provide a neat finish and secure and cover the cut edges of roof felt.
Finial: Covers the join at the apex where the barge boards meet and adds a decorative feature.
Timber Treatments
Dip Treatment: The timber is finished with a factory applied treatment which provides some initial protection against fungal decay. Dip treatment means the timber has been immersed in the treatment solution – timber is dipped into a tank containing preservative which is absorbed into its surface. The timber is removed and left to dry.
A product with this type of finish will need to be re-treated every year to protect the timber from rotting. Dip Treated products are not suitable for direct contact with the ground. Sheds are supplied with Pressure Treated bearers and Dip Treated Fence Panels should be used with a gravel board.
Dip Treated products normally have a golden brown/amber appearance when new which will fade over time. Forest Garden Dip Treated products come with a 10 year Anti-Rot guarantee.
Pressure Treatment: Pressure Treated products do not require annual re-treatment. These products have the anti-rot solution forced into the cellular structure of the timber at high pressure to give them greater resistance to rot. Timber is loaded into a tank and a vacuum empties it of air. The vacuum in the tank then forces the preservative solution into the timber before it is left to dry.
Pressure Treated products have a more natural timber colouration and will blend into their surroundings. The treatment can leave a greenish tinge on the timber when new, this is normal and will grey over time. Our 4Life Sheds and Summerhouses come with a 25 year Anti-Rot guarantee. All other Pressure Treated products come with a 15 year Anti-Rot guarantee.
