What do we mean by Rustic Poles? Rustic poles is the term that we use to identify a natural wooden pole - i.e. one that has not been machined into a standard shape. For us, this can mean with the bark left on, or with the bark peeled off. Rustic poles were typically used for pergolas or fencing for a more a natural look and feel - however in recent years they have been used for a wider variety of products. If you opt for a peeled rustic pole then you can choose from a number of different finishes - hand peeled (smoother) or machine peeled (some bark may still be left on) - both have a lovely natural look about them. Some companies pressure treat their peeled rustic poles - which can extend the life of these natural products - however we choose not to, so that we can lessen the impact on the environment. With proper care and attention you can use standard wood preservatives, or even linseed oils to enjoy this product for years to come.
WoodPoint is one of a decreasing number of woodland businesses able to produce hand cut special orders of Rustic Round Wood from the broadleaved woodlands or conifer forests. These products are cut to order as part of approved thinning operation in young conifer plantations or hardwood coppices here in the UK.
Information when ordering - things to consider:
Whilst we can help you with what you might be looking for alongside what is available to us we cannot advise you with any guarantee about weight bearing, structure building or any other particular use - the responsibility to ensure the correct materials are used is with yourself. We supply rustic poles only which are used for purposes of your choice and the independant titles on each page are for reference only - there are no adapaptions to the different named poles. It is advised to read up on the properties of untreated wood (i.e. moisture, movement of green wood and cracking, use of wood preservatives, how long they will last etc) so you understand them for what they are and how they may be different from "machined", "treated" poles that you may be used to seeing in timber merchants - this responsibility also relys with yourself. We hope that you do find them to be suitable for what you are looking for, and we hope you also appreciate them for what they are - much as we do. We are not a mass produced manufacturing company - and this is not seen as a "product" - more as a natural material which needs to be treated and understood as such.
Peeled poles will start to season as soon as the bark is removed. When felled all green timber is said to have a moisture content of 100%. This means that there is approximately as much weight in the water in a pole as the weight of the wood! Drying outside can take as little as 5 weeks in the summer or as long as 3 months in the winter and once completed the air dried poles will stabilise at approximately 30% moisture contact (by contrast kiln dried timber eg window frames are taken down to 15%). In practice an air dried pole will lose about half its weight compared with the fresh felled green weight. However, air dried poles left outside , particularly in the winter will reabsorb some water from moisture in the air or rain.
Peeled poles may develop various surface moulds depending on how you store your wood, time of year and species; softwoods like Pine are more prone to these surface changes. This problem is most pronounced before the poles are seasoned (air dry) and when the weather is warm, still and humid. However, bringing unseasoned poles into a closed building can also make the problem worse if the air is moist and still (e.g. a storage container or closed garage).
During seasoning and particularly in hot weather coniferous poles will develop cracks along the length of the grain. These cracks can be from 1mm up to about 8mm in large diameter poles. This is a natural process and seldom causes any reduction in pole strength. These natural cracks tend to close up a little in wet or humid conditions.
Aftercare - how you will look after them.
As you are buying a natural product, rather than something that has been mass produced and pressure treated - the aftercare is really important if you want to get as many years out of your purchase as possible and reduce the risks of mould or early decay. The necessary steps to look after your poles is dependant on how green the wood is when you recieve it and what your intended use is, but all poles will need care and attention after purchasing. If you are interested in purchasing poles from us, we will send you more information that is relevant to your order. This will include - the best ways to store your poles if you intend to store them and use them again and suggested wood preservatives.
Choosing Rustic Round Poles
We understand that you may not know what you need, and that natural wood may be a bit of a unknown for you - hopefully the above can act as a bit of a guide to inform and help you make those decisions. The information supplied is guidance only and does not form part of the contract of supply or a guarantee that any particular poles are suitable for any particular end use or structure. The information is offered from obervations based on thirty years of experience as help and advice in choosing natural wooden poles where, due to their inherent variation in properties and appearance, description and specification can be hard to define. Its the beauty of nature!
When choosing timber type it is best to think about how it will last as well as how it looks when it is bought. What does it need to provide and for how long? Take a look below to find out more!
Ordering
Delivery