The Advantages of Using Treated Timber in Landscaping Projects

Landscaping is a vital aspect of renovating a home. With seven in eight of us having access to a garden, the landscape services importance of green spaces is by no means lost on property developers. Indeed, a good garden can have real impacts with regard to property value and first impressions amongst viewers.

But choosing how to approach a landscaping project will naturally differ from renovator to renovator, and from taste to taste. Material considerations are paramount here, informing as they do the aesthetic and budget of the finished garden. Treated timber is a strong and often underrated contender for outdoor structures, but why is it advantageous to use?

Durability and Versatility
First and foremost, treated timbers are purpose-made to be hard-wearing. They lend themselves well to outdoor applications, on account of being moisture-resistant and hostile to the growth of decay-abetting microorganisms. These timber products are treated with chemicals that prevent the growth of fungi and help support wood fibres for longer. As such, they are primed to survive shifts in weather and temperature, making for longer-lasting superstructures.

Not only are treated timbers durable, but they are also versatile. Wood as a material suits a wide variety of practical applications, being an easy material with which to work. This is to say nothing of its aesthetic value, wherein even bare treated timbers can be used to great effect for the visuals of a given landscape design.

Pest Resistance
Treated timbers have numerous advantages over untreated timbers. We’ve already discussed how the chemicals with which they are treated prevent the ingress of moisture and fungi; the same can also be said for pests and insects. Burrowing insects like termites and carpenter ants can wreak havoc on the structural stability of a finished design, be it a pergola or a raised bed. The chemicals in the timber are a deterrent for these insects, ensuring that the structures you build retain their integrity for far longer.

Environmental Friendliness
One of the major benefits to designing landscaping projects around the use of treated timber is environmental in nature. Building materials have a significant impact on the environment, both in terms of local ecosystems and carbon emissions. With regard to the latter, concrete – a common landscaping material – can be extremely pollutive as a material, and unkind to flora and fauna to boot. Timber, however, is a sustainable and renewable resource. Less carbon emissions are a produced in the processing of timber, and more timber can be grown in its place.

Cost Friendliness
Finally, utilising wood products in the place of metal or stone can have positive implications for a given landscaping budget. Timber is cheaper than these materials, and can achieve similar goals dependent on design. As such, a landscape idea can be realised for dramatically less than it might be with other materials – with aesthetic and environmental positives to boot.