The Ethical Garden Shed

High quality contemporary garden sheds, summer houses and other structures tend to be made from pine or spruce. The durability and attractive quality of both woods makes them excellent choices for garden structures. In terms of industry usefulness, and the environment and her delicate balance, how do these two fare?

Pine
Naturally occurring pine is quite a soft wood, making it less desirable for outdoor structures than spruce, however the price tag is a little lower and the wood more easily obtainable on the market. This is partly thanks to tree farms; vast manmade forests of densely packed trees growing for the sole purpose of industry consumption. These tree farms are criticised by some environmentalists because, despite providing a sustainable pine industry, the increased rapid growth produces excesses of COv(2) beyond the norm.

Spruce
Particularly ethical garden structure companies tend to use slow-grown spruce i.e. not from tree farms. The elevated price tag of high quality spruce is related to its superior value as a building material. Spruce is commonly grown in tree farms for Christmas trees, however the spruce used for outdoor structures is renowned for its strength, which is derived from growing slowly in the harsher northern climates.

Pine vs. Spruce
Garden sheds and summer houses made from spruce will generally last longer than their pine-made counterparts for a simple, logical reason – spruce originates from more northerly regions where weather is harsher, temperatures lower etc, thus making spruce more durable and strong against the elements.

A main concern regarding the use of wood for garden structures is that of warp and split potential. Pine splits far more easily than spruce, thanks to spruce’s close-knit rings providing superior strength. Water resistance is also a key concern (especially in the British weather!) where spruce stands out against pine. Simply put, pine is more porous than spruce, leading pine to soak up more water, warp and spilt more easily.

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