Potting sheds are a terrific convenience for gardeners, providing important storage and workspace. There’s usually one big problem with them: very little usable light inside. Swallow has solved that issue by essentially building an all-in-one potting shed and greenhouse, which they call the Rook. It is constructed from high-tech, treated Scandinavian ThermoWood ®, with half of the structure featuring glass side panels and roof to maximize the amount of light which reaches the seedlings and other plants you’re working on. It’s the perfect hybrid building, made even more perfect (if that’s possible) by the fact that Swallow provides free installation in most areas of the UK.
Here are the essential facts on the Swallow Rook Potting Shed:
Sizes and Detailing: The Rook is eight feet wide, with seven different lengths available from 8 x 8 to 8 x 20, so there’s a size which will work with just about any home gardening space. Each model has two roof vents (which come with automatic openers at no extra charge) and one side opening window; there’s also an inward opening door on the side of the structure (you can choose on which side it’s built) with a high-quality mortise lock. No potting shed would be complete without staging and storage, of course, and the Swallow Rook comes standard with full-length wooden staging in the front (sitting flush against the windows) and two wooden shelves in the back.
General Construction: The distinctive appearance of this potting shed is largely due to the strong and beautiful wood used in its construction. The timbers, used widely throughout the Scandinavian countries for outdoor buildings, are thermally modified and pre-treated so that all excess moisture is removed. That makes the wood more stable, more resistant to decay and more attractive – even more so when you choose from any of the ten available colours, all of which (except for the natural wood grain) are painted onto the timbers at the Swallow facility in Rotherham. The tongue-and-groove construction is backed with stainless steel nails, and there’s a fitted floor with plastic runners in order to prevent dampness. There is a ten-year warranty on all timbers.
Here are the essential facts on the Swallow Rook Potting Shed:
Sizes and Detailing: The Rook is eight feet wide, with seven different lengths available from 8 x 8 to 8 x 20, so there’s a size which will work with just about any home gardening space. Each model has two roof vents (which come with automatic openers at no extra charge) and one side opening window; there’s also an inward opening door on the side of the structure (you can choose on which side it’s built) with a high-quality mortise lock. No potting shed would be complete without staging and storage, of course, and the Swallow Rook comes standard with full-length wooden staging in the front (sitting flush against the windows) and two wooden shelves in the back.
General Construction: The distinctive appearance of this potting shed is largely due to the strong and beautiful wood used in its construction. The timbers, used widely throughout the Scandinavian countries for outdoor buildings, are thermally modified and pre-treated so that all excess moisture is removed. That makes the wood more stable, more resistant to decay and more attractive – even more so when you choose from any of the ten available colours, all of which (except for the natural wood grain) are painted onto the timbers at the Swallow facility in Rotherham. The tongue-and-groove construction is backed with stainless steel nails, and there’s a fitted floor with plastic runners in order to prevent dampness. There is a ten-year warranty on all timbers.
Glazing: Standard glazing for the front and side panels of all Rook models is 3mm toughened safety glass, which fits into grooves inside the wooden frame and is then sealed into place with silicone. The glazing is ideal for windy areas and properties with children; the glass is nearly unbreakable, and if it does shatter it breaks into tiny pieces rather than dangerous shards.
Options: Since so much is included with this potting shed, there are only a few add-ons available: rainwater systems (in white or black), several additional shelving options, and a black wrought iron door handle.
Potting sheds are usually an afterthought for most gardeners. After all, when space is at a premium it’s difficult to justify the “waste” of growing area. With the Swallow Rook, however, there’s so much light available for your plants and seedlings that a potting shed becomes much more than a luxury – it’s storage space, work space and a greenhouse in one beautiful structure.
Options: Since so much is included with this potting shed, there are only a few add-ons available: rainwater systems (in white or black), several additional shelving options, and a black wrought iron door handle.
Potting sheds are usually an afterthought for most gardeners. After all, when space is at a premium it’s difficult to justify the “waste” of growing area. With the Swallow Rook, however, there’s so much light available for your plants and seedlings that a potting shed becomes much more than a luxury – it’s storage space, work space and a greenhouse in one beautiful structure.