Cypress wood at EXIT Toys

Our wooden playhouses, AquaFlow water tracks, Aksent sandpits, sand and water tables and Yummy wooden mud kitchens are made from FSC®-certified cypress wood (FSC 100%). Cypress wood is naturally resistant to weather conditions such as rain, making it resistant to wood rot. This type of wood is also splinter-resistant. You do not need to treat the wood before use: once assembled, children can start playing straight away.

What is cypress wood?

Cypress wood is a softwood from the cypress family. It contains natural oils, which make it especially suitable for outdoor use. These oils create the wood’s characteristic scent and contribute to its natural durability: cypress wood is naturally resistant to moisture, mould and insects. That is why it has long been used for products that need to withstand frequent use, from storage chests to outdoor structures.

Splinter-resistant cypress wood: ready to play

Cypress wood has a smooth finish and is splinter-resistant. That makes it especially suitable for play equipment that children touch every day, from the balustrade of a playhouse to the edge of a sandpit.

The wood is also treated in the factory with a natural, water-based stain. This treatment gives the wood extra protection against wood rot and mould.

The benefits of cypress wood at a glance:

• Splinter-resistant wood, smooth and pleasant for children’s hands
• Naturally resistant to rain and wind, and resistant to wood rot
• No treatment needed before use, ready to play on after assembly

The EXIT Loft and Crooky playhouses also have a waterproof bitumen roof. This helps keep moisture out of the inside of the playhouse and lets children play under cover during a shower. Thanks to the pre-assembled panels and clear instructions, the playhouse is easy to assemble too.

Why cypress wood turns grey

Wood is a living material. Over time, cypress wood will turn grey due to exposure to sunlight and rain. This is a natural, surface-level process: UV radiation only changes the colour of the outer layer of the wood. The strength and quality of the wood are preserved. Do keep in mind that the appearance of the product will change slightly as a result.

Want to keep the original colour or give the wood extra protection against wear, dirt and moisture? Apply a new layer of stain every two years. Use a water-based paint or stain with a natural base. This will help your playhouse, sandpit or mud kitchen look almost like new again.

The characteristic scent of cypress wood

Cypress wood is known for its characteristic scent, caused by the natural oils in the wood. Do you notice this scent when unpacking your order? That is normal. The intensity will gradually fade once the wood has been exposed to outdoor air.

Maintaining cypress wood play equipment

Cypress wood play equipment needs little maintenance. Use these simple tips to keep the wood in good condition:

• Do you see dark, damp patches on the wood? Wipe away these weather marks with a dry cloth or a little soft soap
• Regularly check that screws and nuts are still securely tightened
• Apply a new layer of stain every two years for extra protection

Your play equipment can stay outside during winter. Just do not leave it to overwinter on a damp surface such as grass. Want to know more? Read our blog about maintaining an EXIT wooden playhouse.

How are cypress wood playhouses placed and anchored?

Place your playhouse on a flat, dry surface, at least two metres away from objects such as trees, fences or overhanging branches. Anchoring is not required, but it is possible. With the separately available EXIT anchoring set for play equipment and play houses, you can help keep the playhouse firmly in place on the ground.

Warranty on cypress wood play equipment

Our cypress wood products are made for years of play. The overview below shows at a glance which warranty applies to each product group.

Product group	Wood warranty	Other parts
Wooden playhouses	2 years	1 year
AquaFlow water tracks	2 years	1 year
Aksent sandpits	2 years	1 year
Aksent sand and water tables	5 years	1 year
Yummy wooden mud kitchens	2 years	1 year

The wood warranty covers wood rot. Parts are available for at least five years after purchase, so if something gets damaged you can easily order a separate part.

Warranty conditions

The warranty applies to normal home use and correct assembly according to the manual. Natural characteristics of wood are not covered by the warranty. These include greying, colour differences, the characteristic scent and weather marks caused by moisture.

Buying a cypress wood playhouse or play equipment

Looking for a wooden playhouse for the garden? View the range of wooden playhouses or go straight to the playhouses with slide. Prefer playing with sand and water? Discover our water tracks, sandpits, sand and water tables and mud kitchens. With cypress wood products from EXIT Toys, you choose splinter-resistant, weather-resistant wood that is ready to play on without treatment. This makes it easy to find the cypress wood play equipment that suits your family and garden.