Help for wood novice

[leighflo]

Dear forum
I live in london and would like to build a shelter in my garden that looks a bit like the wooden one in the picture except with four legs for support (approx 3mx3m). Please can anyone advise the best wood to buy and where I would get a good price. I would prefer the would doesn't look too green, and that I don't have to maintain it.

Any help really appreciated

Leigh

 

[kinsella]

Leigh
Sounds like you need to speak to a builder or a landscape contractor. The shelter will need foundations and no doubt power looking at the photo. The choice of timber will depend on what your key drivers are, ie cost? durability? this could mean hardwood like oak, Iroko or another hard wearing external wood or some cheaper treated softwood. Go through you local telephone directory and either look for builders or timber merchants.
You may also have to consider the boundary condition, you may need consent or have to move it away from your neighbours boundary line. It may be classed as a structure and have to fit within the constraints of permitted development in planning terms. Look up "Permitted Development" on your local council web site.

 

[Mike.S]

For natural durability and cheaper than hardwoods it may be worth considering Western Red Cedar. Whilst starting out as red/brown it will fade in sunlight to silvery grey (like many woods), unless you treat it e.g. with Sadolin.

 

[richarnold]

An excellent choice for exterior timber would be "Accoya" wood, This is probably the most durable and stable timber in the world, and has a 50 year unconditional guarantee externally, and that's just the bare wood!! It can be finished with sadolins or sickens type products to give a desired color, but it will also weather out like oak to a silver grey.
Cheers, Richard.