Visitors to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will be the first to see a brand new Accoya summerhouse from timber buildings expert Scotts of Thrapston.
Renowned for its stylish and high quality summerhouses, Scotts of Thrapston will reveal the new cladding option for its garden buildings on stand WA309 at the show held within the iconic grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea from 24th to 28th May.
Accoya is one of the most advanced wood products available, offering a combination of longevity, durability, low maintenance and sustainability. Scotts’ Accoya summerhouses deliver huge benefits over traditional wood structures as the wood is particularly suited to outdoor use or structures that are exposed to the elements, offering a 50 year guarantee above ground.
Following eight decades of research, Accoya, which is produced by Accsys Technologies, uses a patented wood acetylation process. During this process the chemical structure of the wood is modified throughout, not just at the surface, as is the case with traditional treatments. The result is a wood that is naturally insulating and dimensionally stable with every piece of Accoya consistent in quality and there are no exposed non-acetylated surfaces when the wood is cut or joined.
Scotts’ core range of five summerhouses is now available constructed from Accoya wood, alongside the existing products manufactured using vacuum pressure impregnated European Redwood. A limited edition Burghley summerhouse, constructed using Accoya, will take pride of place on the trade stand throughout the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
As standard, an Accoya summerhouse will be offered in an oak stained option or, alternatively, customers can choose from the existing range of nine paint colour finishes.
Fourth generation Scotts family member and director, James Scott, said that by offering summerhouses constructed using Accoya, the company continues to be at the forefront of advances in wood technology, even after 95 years of business.
He said: “Throughout the nine decades Scotts has been producing timber buildings, we have seen many changes, not only to our product ranges, but also to the construction methods and materials used at our factory in Northamptonshire. However, the decision to offer our core summerhouse range in Accoya has to be one of the most significant strides forward we have made in recent years.
“The benefits of Accoya are numerous and each and every one makes it ideal for garden buildings, so we are confident it will be a hit with our customers.”
The Future of Wood
Accoya is particularly suited to summerhouse construction thanks to a number of its key benefits.
Outstanding stability and durability – During the patented acetylation process, the wood’s chemical structure is altered to reduce water absorption and digestibility. This leads to outstanding stability and durability, combined with ease of machining and exceptional performance exceeding even the best tropical hardwoods which are increasingly scarce and far less sustainable. As a result of low water absorption, coatings are not subject to such severe stretch and shrink cycles as other woods meaning maintenance frequency is significantly reduced.
Sustainable and kind to the environment – Naturally renewable, Accoya also boasts excellent environmental credentials by using solid wood sourced from fast-growing responsibly managed FSC certified forests. Nothing is added to the wood during the acetylation process that does not naturally occur within it and so it has zero toxicity and, after exceeding its extended lifespan of at least 25 years in ground contact, or 50 years above ground, it can safely be recycled.
Natural aesthetics – Accoya retains its natural colour after acetylation demonstrating the natural beauty of the wood, yet its durability is class 1, exceeding nature’s most durable woods.
Long-lasting – Having been tested over prolonged periods in all types of weather conditions, Accoya has been proven to withstand even the toughest external environments, even when submerged in water. Its superior resistance to UV degradation improves its lifespan and further improves cost-effectiveness as maintenance is far less frequent.
James Scott adds: “Accoya’s properties speak for themselves, not least its sustainability and environmental credentials, which we know is something our customers are looking for. But probably the most important factor when it comes to summerhouses is its unparalleled performance with a 50 year life expectancy above ground.”
Laura Ladd, head of marketing at Accoya, said the partnership would offer great benefits to summerhouse owners: “There are no toxic chemicals or non-renewable carbon-intensive materials and its longevity means that summerhouses are replaced less frequently and fewer coatings are required over its lifespan. Accoya also holds the Gold certification for the Cradle to Cradle™ philosophy and is 100 per cent biodegradable, reusable and recyclable.
“Customers are increasingly demanding sustainable materials with high life expectancy and low maintenance. Our high-technology wood is sustainably grown in the fastest growing responsibly managed forests and is considered a suitable replacement for increasingly scarce tropical hardwoods.”
For more information, visit the Scotts of Thrapston trade stand at RHS Chelsea Flower Show from 24 to 28 May, stand WA309, or go to www.scottsofthrapston.co.uk.