What Timber?
What Timber is Best Suited for a Timber Conservatory or Orangery
A quick browse through different timbers demonstrates why oak is the most desirable of all conservatory hardwoods.
Seasoned Oak
The ‘King of Woods’. The preferred wood of connoisseurs.
European Oak
(Quercus robur)
Grown across Europe from the British isles and Eastern Europe oak is steeped in British tradition. Many of Britain’s oldest buildings are hewed from oak. All British palaces planted oak in their grounds.
Other uses: include ship building. Historically oak trees were grown specifically for the British navy. The Spanish Armada planned to destroy the New Forest as a way of stopping British Naval superiority in the future.
Shearing strength : 2660 psi
Weight : 860 kg/cubic meter
Extremely durable
Seasoned Oak Orangery Corner Post
Meranti
Striking reddish brown timber with free flowing grain pattern.
Meranti
(Shorea spp)
The most important wood in Asia. Now extensively brought into the UK. Meranti is grown in Indonesia and Malaysia. Proven for the UK climate having been shipped here for over 30 years.
Other uses: Heavy construction, Boat building, Cabinet making, Beams and Joinery.
Shearing strength : 1850 psi
Weight : 710 kg/cubic meter
Very durable
Sapele
Economic alternative to Mahogany.
Gable Front Sapele Conservatory
Sapele
(Entandrophragma cylindricum)
It is grown extensively in Africa especially Ghana and named after the river Sapele. Sapele is a relative recent import to Europe and has become more well known due to the restrictions on Brazilian Mahogany.
Other uses: include sliced veneers, interior fittings, furniture, panelling and musical instruments. Striped Sapele is very popular as a decorative surface veneer for high-grade furniture, particularly book-cases.
Shearing strength : 2088 psi
Weight : 640 kg/cubic meter
Very durable
Idigbo
Yellow to light brown wood with irregular grain.
Idigbo
(Terminalia ivorensis)
Fast growing tree. Cheap to buy and very easy to machine. It is to Africa what pine is in the UK. Grown in west tropical Africa from Guinea to Cameroon, A successful plantation species.
Other uses: A good general purpose timber. Plywood, furniture components, joinery, decorative panelling, veneers, flooring, light construction.
Shearing strength : 1020 psi
Weight : 560 kg/cubic meter
Very durable
West Red Cedar
Softwood with marked differences in colour.
Western Red Cedar
(Thuya plicata)
Grown in North America and Canada. Used in the UK in the last 20 years as softwood that is more stable and easier to work than pine.
Other uses: Cladding, Fences, Casks, Boxes and Crates, Utility poles, Porch Columns and Posts.
Shearing strength : 990 psi
Weight : 390 kg/cubic meter
Moderately durable
Engineered Pine Conservatory
Scots Pine
Cheapest alternative on the market.
Scots Pine
(Pinus sylvestris)
Is grown extensively in the UK and Europe. The most common softwood in the UK. Easy to work with. The favourite of builders because of low cost.
Other uses: Windows, Doors, Furniture.
Shearing strength : 565 psi
Weight : 510 kg/cubic meter
Low durability
