Timbers
Find Out More About the Timbers We Use
Why Do We Need Trees?
A growing tree is similar to a gas chamber, absorbing carbon dioxide, locking in the carbon only and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere, in addition to this it helps to humidify the climate.
Why Do We Need Joiners?
As a tree reaches maturity it slows down and little CO2 is removed. When mature trees fall and decay, they start to release CO2 into the air, and this brings on the need to harvest mature trees and replace them quickly. Controlled harvesting of forests are essential to maintain the balance and development of our environment.
Why Should You Choose Us?
All our timber comes from managed forests and the moisture content is checked to ensure it is suitable for its new environment. On the subject of the environment, timber is one of a few materials that is renewable and every time you don’t specify to renew it, you are helping to destroy our planet.
- Hardwoods
- Softwoods
Ash, European
Specification:
Available in Waney Edged Boards. A combination of long and wide boards can be difficult.
Description:
White to light grey or brown. The wood is tough, flexible and straight grained. The texture is coarse but even. It has a pronounced grain character which on flat sawn surfaces produces a decorative figure.
Typical uses:
Cabinet Making, Furniture, Sports Goods, Tool Handles, Vehicle Body Building.
Weight: Average 710kg/m3
Durability: Non durable
Ash, American
Specification:
Available in Square Edge boards in a good range of sizes. A combination of long and wide specifications can be difficult.
Description:
White to light brown. The wood is generally straight grained with a coarse uniform texture. Machines well and can be stained and polished to a very good finish. It has excellent shock resistance and is good for steam bending.
Typical uses:
High Class Joinery, Architectural Interiors, Kitchen Cabinets, Panelling, Tool Handles, Sports Goods.
Weight: Average 673kg/m3 (12%mc)
Durability: Non durable
Beech, European
Specification:
Available in Square Edge and waney edge boards in a good range of sizes and grades. A combination of long and wide specifications can be difficult.
Description:
Natural colour is white to pale brown. Also available steamed giving a warm pinkish colour. Steamed Beech has grown tremendously in popularity and is now used more and more as a substitute for Tropical Redwoods. Usually fine and even in texture with practically no figure. It requires care in use ,as it can vary in both stability and working qualities. Beech is now one of the most widely used hardwoods in Ireland.
Typical Uses:
Cabinet Making, High Class Joinery, Solid and Laminated Furniture, Work Benches, Bar Furniture, Frame Making.
Weight: Average 720kg/M3
Durability: Non Durable
Birch, American
Specification:
Available in Square Edge boards.
Description:
Light reddish brown.The wood is generally straight grained with a fine uniform texture. It works fairly well, stains and polishes well. The wood is hard and strong with good bending qualitites.
Typical uses:
Furniture, Kitchen Cabinets, Internal Joinery, Panelling, Mouldings, Doors, Floors.
Weight: 689kg/m3 (12%mc)
Durability: Non durable
Cherry, American
Specification:
Availability in Square Edge board in a good range of sizes.
Description:
Heartwood varies from a rich red to reddish brown and will darken on exposure to light and contrasts with sapwood which is light creamy White. It has a fine uniform straight grain, smooth texture, and may naturally contain brown pith flecks and small gum pockets. Cherry machines well and produces an excellent smooth finish.
Typical uses:
Furniture, Cabinet Making, High class Joinery, Musical Instruments Turning
Panelling, Flooring, Boat Interiors.
Weight: Average 561kg/m3 (12%mc)
Durability: Moderately durable
Chestnut, European
Specification:
Available in First Quality Waney Edged boards.
Description:
Sometimes known as Spanish or Sweet Chestnut. Pale to light brown, similar to Oak, but without the silver grain figure of Oak due to finer rays. Easy to work and gives an excellent finish.
Typical Uses:
Kitchen Furniture, Turnery, Kitchen Utensils, Furniture, Back Panels in Oak Furniture, Drawer Sides.
Weight: Approx. 540kg/M3
Durability: Moderately Durable
Elm, American
Specification:
Limited availability in Square Edge boards.
Description:
Colour is reddish brown to dark brown. The grain can be straight but can often be interlocked .The wood has a coarse texture. It is fairly easy to work and nails, screws, and glues well. Red Elm can be sanded, stained and polished to a good finish. It is moderately heavy,hard and has excellent bending qualities. It is difficult to split because of its interlocked grain.
Typical uses:
Furniture, Cabinet Making, Internal Joinery, Flooring, Panelling, Coffins.
Weight: 593kg/m3 (15%m/c)
Durability: Non durable
Iroko, African
Specification:
Available in Square Edge boards in a range of thicknesses. Also available in Waney Edge.
Description:
Colour varies from medium to golden brown. Iroko has excellent strength properties comparing well with Teak, though weaker in bending and compression along the grain. On quarter sawn surfaces their is a tendency for grain to pick up due to interlocked grain. A cutting angle of 15 degrees is usually necessary to obtain a smooth finish. An excellent finish can be obtained if the grain is filled.
Typical uses:
Exterior Joinery, Interior Joinery, Laboratory Work, Worktops, Boat Building.
Weight: Average 660kg/m3 (15%mc)
Durability: Durable
Hard Maple, American
Specification:
Available in Square Edge boards in a good range of sizes.
Description:
Creamy white with a reddish tinge. The wood has a fine texture and is generally straight grained. It can contain pith fleck. With care it machines well, turns well, glues satisfactorily, and can be stained and polished to an outstanding finish.
Typical uses:
Internal Joinery, Furniture, Kitchen Cabinets, Worktops, Mouldings , Flooring.
Weight: 705kg/m3 (12%mc)
Durability: Non Durable
Red Oak, American
Specification:
Available in Square Edge boards in a good range of sizes.
Description:
Colour is pale pink to reddish Brown. The wood is mostly straight grained with a course texture. It machines well and can be stained and polished to a good finish. The Red Oak gets its name from the colour of the leaves in the Autumn.
Typical uses:
Internal Joinery, Furniture, Kitchen Cabinets, Architectural Interiors, Coffins.
Weight: 705kg/m3 (12%mc)
Durability: Non Durable
Oak, European
Specification:
Available in Square Edge and Waney Edged boards in a range of sizes.
Description:
Light yellow brown, variable in character. Quarter sawn surfaces contain figure due to broad rays. Direct contact with metals will cause corrosion due to the acidic of nature oak.
Typical uses:
Furniture, High Class External and Internal Joinery, Cabinet Making, Constructional.
Weight: Average 670 kg/m3
Durability: Durable
White Oak, American
Specification:
Available in Square Edge boards in a good range of sizes.
Description:
Colour is pale yellow brown. White Oak is mostly straight grained with a medium to coarse texture, with longer rays than Red Oak. White Oak therefore has more figure. Its adhesive properties are variable but it machines well, stains and polishes to a good finish. As it reacts with iron, galvanised screws are recommended. A hard and heavy wood and very good in steam bending.
Typical uses:
Exterior and Internal Joinery, Architectural Joinery, Furniture, Kitchen Cabinets, Shop Fitting, Panelling, Mouldings.
Weight: 769kg/m3 (12%m/c)
Durability: Durable.
Poplar, American
Specification:
Available in Square Edge boards in a limited range of sizes.
Description:
Colour varies from creamy white, yellowish brown to olive green. The wood has a medium texture and is straight grained. It is easy to machine, plane, turn, glue and bore. It takes and holds paint, enamel and stain exceptionally well. It has a tendency to split when nailed.
Typical uses:
Interior Joinery, Furniture, Kitchen Cabinets, Panelling, Moulding, Light Construction, Turning and Carving.
Weight: 449kg/m3 (12 %m/c)
Durability: Non durable
Sapele, African
Specification:
Available in Waney edge / Square one edge boards in a long and wide specification in limited number of thicknesses.
Description:
Colour reddish brown. Same family as Utile and similar in appearance.
Typical uses:
Joinery, Furniture, Cabinet Making, Doors / Windows, Staircases.
Weight: 655kg/m3 (15%mc)
Durability: Durable
Sycamore, European
Specification:
Available in Square Edge boards in a limited range of sizes.
Description:
White to creamy white with a natural lustre. It has a uniform straight grain with a fine close even texture. Fairly easy to work and gives a fine smooth finish.
Typical uses:
Cabinet Work, Furniture, High Quality Joinery, Domestic Woodware, Turning.
Weight: Average 610kg/m3
Durability: Non durable
Utile, African
Specification:
Availability in Square Edge boards in a range of sizes.
Description:
Reddish to purplish brown. Utile belongs to the same family as Sapele with a similar appearance, but is far more even textured and stable. Generally it is easily worked.
Typical uses:
Joinery, Furniture, Shopfitting, Cabinet Making, Doors and Window Frames, Staircases.
Weight: 655 kg/m3 (15%mc)
Durability: Durable
Walnut, American
Specification:
Available in Square Edge boards in a good range of sizes
Description:
Colour is light to dark chocolate brown, occasionally with a purplish cast and dark streaks. The wood is generally straight grained, but sometimes can have a wavy or curly grain that produces an attractive figure. It machines and glues well. It holds paint very well and can be polished to an exceptional finish. A favoured wood for using in contrast with lighter coloured woods.
Typical uses:
Furniture, Cabinet Making, High Class Joinery, Architectural Interiors, Panelling.
Weight: 609kg/m3 (12%mc)
Durability: Durable
Wenge, African
Specification:
Availability in Square Edge boards in a range of sizes.
Description:
Dark brown colour. Wenge is quite a heavy wood but looks the part with its dark, almost Walnut-like colour.
Typical uses:
Joinery, Furniture, Shopfitting, Cabinet Making, Doors and Window Frames, Staircases.
Weight: 880 kg/m3 (15%mc)
Durability: Durable
Western Red Cedar, American
Specification:
Limited availability in Square Edge boards.
Description:
Colour is reddish brown. It is pleasantly scented.The timber has very little character. It works easily and produces a very smooth finish.
Typical uses:
Conservatories, Summer Houses, Light Weight Construction, External Joinery, Internal Joinery, Weather Boarding, Beehives, Roof Shingles.
Weight: Average 530kg/m3
Durability: Durable
Douglas Fir, American
Specification:
Available in a range of sizes.
Description:
Pale brown to red wood. Easy timber to work with almost resembles Redwood timber. Very useful timber overall and excellent strength qualities.
Typical uses:
Internal Joinery, Furniture, Flooring, Cabinets.
Weight: Average 530kgs/m3
Durability: Moderately durable
Red Deal, American
Specification:
Available in a range of sizes.
Description:
Colour pale yellowish brown to red brown heart wood. The timber works well with both machine and hand tools. It can be stained, painted, varnished or polished satisfactorily. Resinous planks can be difficult to glue.
Typical uses:
Internal Joinery, Furniture, General Building Construction, Turnery.
Weight: Average 510kgs/m3
Durability: Non durable
Southern Yellow Pine, American
Specification:
Good availability in Square Edge boards.
Description:
Colour is pale yellow to reddish brown. It is hard and heavy and almost identical in strenght properties to Douglas Fir. The timber has fine texture and a uniform grain. Some boards can be resinous. Yellow Pine machines well, producing high quality results.
Typical uses:
Internal Joinery, Staircases, Internal Woodworking, Cabinet Making.
Weight:
Average 660kg/m3
Durability:
Non durable
Redwood, European
Specification:
Available in a range of sizes.
Description:
Colour pale yellowish brown to red wood. The timbers low moisture content helps to protect against insect attack and decay, it is also very easy to treat.
Typical uses:
Internal Joinery, Furniture, General Building Construction, Cladding.
Weight: Average 510kgs/m3
Durability: Slightly durable
Larch, European
Specification:
Available in a limited range of sizes in both Square Edge and Waney Edge boards.
Description:
Colour is pale brown to red. It is the only European deciduous conifer. The timber has a uniform texture. It works well with both machine and hand tools, although loose knots occasionally may be troublesome. As nailing causes splitting pre-boring is necessary. It takes stain, varnish and paint well. Larch is harder and tougher than most European conifers.
Typical uses:
Flooring, Staircases, Door and Window frames, Joinery, Boat Planking.
Weight: Average 590 kgs/m3
Durability: Moderately durable
Pitch Pine, Central American
Specification:
Limited Availability in Square Edge boards.
Description:
Orange to reddish brown. It is a resinous timber and hence may cause difficulty in machining. The use of a fairly long tooth pitch offers some relief during machining. The timber takes screws and nails satisfactorily with only a slight tendency to splitting. It can be successfully stained and varnished, although pitch marks may cause difficulty in painting.
Typical uses:
Flooring, Decking, Joinery, Masts and Spars.
Weight: Average 720kg/m3 when dried
Durability: Moderately durable