What timbers can be used for joinery?

Choosing the right timber

Choose the right timber for your window, door and staircase joinery is key because each timber species has its own colour, character, density, durability and performance properties which will influence its suitability for a particular application. There are an estimated 100,000 different species of trees in the world, some of which are almost extinct and need protection. However Salisbury Joinery only use timber from sustainable sources.

Softwood or hardwood?

Tree species are broadly divided into two main groups – softwoods and hardwoods. Softwood trees are coniferous, or cone-bearing, mostly evergreen, and with needle-like leaves. Hardwood trees are deciduous, shedding their leaves at the end of the growing season or during a dry season.

SOFTWOOD
	CEDAR	DOUGLAS FIR	SCANDINAVIAN REDWOOD
	A durable timber, reddish brown in colour and used for both internal and external joinery.	A moderately durable timber, lightly reddish brown in colour and used for both external and internal joinery, including furniture.	A non-durable timber most commonly known as softwood and used for both internal and external joinery.
HARDWOOD
	ASH	BEECH	CHERRY
	A non-durable timber, creamy white to light brown in colour mainly used for internal joinery such as shop fitting, kitchens and furniture.	A non-durable timber, pale brown in colour and mainly used for internal joinery such as turnings, kitchens and flooring.	A moderatly durable timber, golden yellow to pinkish red in colour and used for internal joinery such as kitchens.
IDIGBO	IROKO	MAPLE	MERANTI
A durable timber, yellow to light brown in colour and can be used foe internal and external joinery.	A very durable timber, yellow to mid brown in colour and used foe both internal and external joinery.	A non-durable timber, creamy white to light brown in colour, used for high profile internal joinery such as furniture, kitchens and shop fitting.	A durable timber, medium to dark reddish in colour and used for general joinery and ship building.

TULIPWOOD	AMERICAN WHITE OAK	EUROPEAN OAK	SAPELE
A non-durable timber, pale green in colour and used for internal joinery only.	A durable timber, golden to pale brown on colour and used for internal joinery including furniture, stairs, kitchens and flooring.	A durable timber, golden to mid brown in colourand used for both internal and external joinery.	A moderately durable timber, darkreddish brown in colour and used for both internal and external joinery.
HIGH PERFORMANCE
	ACCOYA
	An outstandingly highly durable timber created from softwood through a proprietary non-toxic acetylation process which is suitable for all types of joinery, particularly windows and doors. A 50 Yr above ground guarantee.

Salisbury Joinery are specialist bespoke joiners manufacturing windows, doors and stairs. We strongly recommend the use of Sapele, Oak or Accoya for external doors and windows for stability and longevity. Our preferred timber for internal doors is Tulip or a hardwood for stability.

Talk to us for more information about different timbers and their suitability for different joinery applications, and how we can help you. Call the team on 01722 337040, or download our Product Guide Guide for more details about our extensive range of bespoke windows doors and stairs.