Wood quality

Wood has always been with us. It is a natural material that is unique. After all, no two pieces of wood are the same. With sustainable management, we can enjoy it all the time. By using this material, it is worthwhile to ensure that its resources are renewed. The forest, the trees are an invaluable friend to animals and man.

As a natural resource, wood has its own specific properties. If it is exposed to the elements, it changes them. It can crack slightly, change colour, shrink or slightly increase in volume. All these changes are natural and you should not worry about them. Nor do they affect the quality or durability of the playground.

Cracks
Wood that is exposed to the weather reacts to changes in moisture content. It can shrink when it is dry or increase in volume when it is wet. This is a natural process and cannot be prevented. Changes in volume usually result in the appearance of cracks. It is accepted that cracks up to 10% in length or cross-section do not affect the strength of the wood. This is why the wood we use for playgrounds is dried before processing to minimise the extent of secondary cracking.



Green tamish on wood
 

The wood may show slight discolouration in green or white, in the form of streaks, spots or dots of these colours. This is normal and you don't need to worry. This is a sign of a reaction between the organic content of the wood and the impregnating agent used to protect the wood and the result is the precipitation of green or white salt crystals, which over time "blend in" with the structure of the wood or wash away. If you want to get rid of these immediately, you can lightly sand them off with fine-grained sandpaper.



Rust
 
Sometimes a darker streak can be seen in the wood structure, this is the wood core (the heartwood, the original part of the wood surrounded by the first grain). It can run the entire length of a piece of wood or only part of it - this is due to the uneven structure of the wood (the uneven arrangement of the rings in the wood) and is an entirely natural characteristic.



Resin pocket, resin

Resin is a natural component in wood. Coniferous wood is characterised by having so-called resin sacs (or pockets). These are often filled with resin and have a curved or dark streaky shape. They do not adversely affect the strength and durability of the beams, but there is a risk of resin leakage at the site of such pockets. If you see resin, stick a piece of paper to it thus protecting and marking the leak, wait a few days for the resin to dry, then peel off the paper and gently scrape off the dry resin (like crystallised honey) without penetrating the structure of the wood itself.

Small cavities on the edges
 

If you notice any cavities on the edges or sides of the components, please take a close look, we recommend that you check gently for any sharp edges and if you find any, use sandpaper to soften them. If the cavity is significant or if you have any doubts, please send us a photo - we will get in touch and together we will assess whether the component needs to be replaced.

Mould
 

Moulds are fungi that are found on the surface of wood and are caused by the moisture that resides in the wood. The wood for our playgrounds is dried before processing, however, we cannot prevent the absorption of water from the air or from precipitation and this can cause mould. To avoid this, we recommend opening the package with the wood as soon as possible and unpacking the wooden elements so that they can freely, gradually 'get rid' of excess moisture. It is best to arrange the elements so that they are not in contact with each other. Even a minimal space between the elements will help them to dry out. However, when mould appears, it is important to detect its presence as early as possible and to react by simply wiping it off with a cloth and drying the area where there are traces of mould. It is also a good idea to treat the area with an anti-mould agent or impregnator, following all the safety rules specified for the use of the agent. Mould, as long as it is not advanced, does not cause deterioration of the wood. Caution: mould that is not removed can develop into rot over time and cause very significant degradation of the wood.



Imperfections around the knot
 

We do our best to sand our wood thoroughly, but sometimes there are areas that are difficult to work, especially around knots. This results in small rough areas next to the knot on the side where the wood planing knives have run. This does not affect the durability of the playground in any way and is not subject to complaint.



Microcracks on the wood
 

Wood is a natural material that works all the time, it shrinks and expands depending on atmospheric conditions, in particular the humidity, and absorbs or gives up water. It is therefore possible for small cracks to appear in wood. The cracks run either end-to-end or within the length of the piece. As a rule, these do not pose a problem either for the strength of the wood or for the aesthetics, but we ask, especially if the elements are used in the construction of floors or playground barriers, that you send us a photo of the element in question. We will take a closer look at the crack and assess whether it is a real problem for the construction of the product.



Small visible discolourations
 

We store our wood in piles, during the drying process it is placed on special spacers that ensure air ventilation between the layers, and in turn, when packed into the final parcel, the wood is strapped and stacked in layers, with the outer layers of the parcel exposed to light, all of which causes differences in the colour of the elements to appear. These are in no way a defect, and what's more, when we assemble the playground and expose the wood to stable weather conditions, the colour will even out after a few weeks.



Knot

A knot is a natural part of wood, namely the in-grown remains of dead, fallen or cut branches. They do not represent a defect and are an integral and natural part of the wood. We have described several types of knots below.

Parality grown konts
 

  Knots with a partially fused perimeter are generally not a problem, we can assume that a knot that is fused over at least 30% of its perimeter is a safe knot with no risk of falling out, of course each knot looks different and if you are unsure, please contact us and we will help you to clarify.



Sash knots with cavities

These types of knots in the wood can very often cause a reduction in the mechanical value of the element and if you have any doubts about such elements, please contact us, send us photos and an assessment of the element, we will take a closer look at it, assess the extent to which the knot has fused and suggest a solution, also taking into account the place in which the wood element will be installed.



Pin or pencil knots 

Small knots in wood, either singly or in groups, sometimes in large numbers, are a normal characteristic of wood and should not be feared. Remember that wood is a natural material coming from trees growing in different conditions, you won't find two identical pieces of wood and the presence of different knots is only a feature underlining this value.

Knots with cavities

It may happen that knots have cavities on their surface. However, if the knot is firmly bonded to the wood, at least for a significant part of its circumference, and the cavity is not large, this should not be a problem. As a precaution, however, you should check that the wood surface around the knot is smooth and if in doubt, please contact us for clarification.



Knotted knot

Occasionally larger knots occur, this is natural in wood as the knots are a remnant of the branches that used to grow here, if they are joined to the wood, stable, not loose and do not appear to have the potential to fall out, do not worry about them, however, if the knot is very large and the wooden element is installed as part of the playground floor, please report this to us - we will replace the element.

If have any questions, don't be shy! We are here for you. Call us and ask! +48 788 807 417
Kind regards, Funky Combo Team