GARDEN DESIGN
Material: HI-MACS ® Alpine White;
Photo credit; Melanie Gotschke
This structure was made using Accoya® wood
and the Shou Sugi Ban charring process
LATHAMS, HELPING
LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS
BRING IDEAS TO LIFE
First importing timber into
Liverpool in 1757, James Latham
have always been seen as
innovators, and that’s as true today
as it’s ever been.
With a number of surprising product
ranges for landscapers, this spirit of
innovation continues.
With their heart still in sustainably
sourced timber and panels, and a
solid market in railway sleepers,
treated timber and other, more
commonplace landscaper’s
favourites, the business has
embraced the arrival of modified
timber products such as Accoya®
wood and MEDITE TRICOYA
EXTREME® MDF. Both of these
products have been treated via a
natural process called acetylation,
enabling the manufacturer to offer
a warranty of 50 years when used
outdoors (and even 25 years when in
contact with the ground!).
Other products such as Garnica
Duraply offer a new take on external
plywood, boasting warranties of up
to 15 years. Modified products such
as these are perfect when decking
and cladding or when planters or
structures are required in landscape
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Garnica Plywood Bench
schemes, providing endless
opportunities for creative solutions
that were never feasible before.
When it comes to surprising with
sought-after finishes, Lathams have
also stolen another innovative
march, having been appoint a
main distributor for the widely
coveted Shou Sugi Ban range of
charred timber cladding and panels.
The aesthetics of these strikingly
attractive products have been
widely celebrated in our sector, but
the source of the products is little
known. The ancient Japanese art
of charring timber isn’t just about
aesthetics though. The process
allows the timber to release resins
that shed water and prolong the
life of the substrate. When applied
to the modified timbers discussed
previously, the effect and longevity
is simply stunning.
All of these, however advanced,
still fit quite comfortably into most
people’s perceptions of Lathams
as a high quality, forward thinking
timber supplier. The real surprise
comes when you start to look into
the decorative solid surfaces the
business has embraced in recent
years.
Providing a new direction for the
company and a whole new option
for garden furniture, outdoor
kitchens and more, thermoformable,
stain resistant products such as LG
HI-MACS® natural acrylic stone and
the Aristech Avonite® and STUDIO®
collections, provide a wide-range of
finishes and textures. Ranging from
masonry effects such as concrete,
marble and stone, through to
translucent, metallic and geometric
patterns, all look spectacular on
their own or even better when lit
from within at night; the cool feel
and smooth, polished appearance
making for a beautiful, tactile finish
that is crying out for creativity and
experimentation.
For more information about
James Latham extensive range of
products for the Landscape and
Urban Design arena, please visit
www.lathamtimber.co.uk or email
[email protected].
www.landud.co.uk
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