Some parts of my Linea playset are not turning a nice grey colour, but are becoming really dark grey or black. Is the wood rotting?

We understand that this can look alarming at first, but no need to worry. In 99% of cases, this is not wood rot. There are two main causes of this black colouring:

1. Natural weathering: because of a combination of a lot of moisture, such as rain, and little sunlight, the silver-grey colour can shift to a dark grey or black shade.
2. Surface mould, caused by the weather: Douglas wood is a natural product that changes over time. When the wood stays damp for a long time, microscopic mould spores from the air can settle on the surface. This does not affect the construction or the strength of the wood. It only causes a black visual discolouration on the outside.