Types of Wood.
Here you will find some interesting information about the wood which we use at Yew Tree Joinery.
Click on the name of the wood to view a sample photograph.
A pale-coloured quality hardwood, Commercially sourced from North America and Europe.
A pale yellow straight grained softwood from north America. Used for joinery as an alternative to hemlock.
A straight grained coarse, hard and heavy hardwood. Actually not one timber but several, including north American red oak, north American white oak and European oak.
The trees in the UK are European oak, which produces the fabulous quality timber used in traditional British furniture and joinery. However, homegrown oak is very expensive and availability of the material is inconsistent.
There is also north American red oak, which as its name implies is more reddish in colour.
Actually not one timber but many different species of softwood, all are pale in colour. The most commonly used species in the UK is Scots Pine, which as its name implies is native to Scotland.
However, whilst UK produced Scots Pine is used within the UK timber industry the majority is imported from Sweden and Finland. Within the trade Scots Pine is frequently referred to as "redwood" or less commonly "red deal".
Other types of pine in common use in the UK are maritime pine, corsican pine, radiata pine and eliotis pine. All are quick growing varieties from temperate regions. Generally these species are regarded as inferior to the better grades of Scots Pine, which is grown slowly in the colder climate of Scandinavia.
A reddish-brown hardwood from west Africa. Used in joinery (especially doors) and furniture as a less expensive alternative to mahogany.
Iroko is a hardwood from tropical Africa. It is one of the woods sometimes referred to as African Teak. Initially yellow but darkens to dark brown. Naturally one of the most durable timbers because it contains natural oil, It needs no preservative outside.
Southern Yellow Pine is also known as Longleaf Pine. The Longleaf Pine is native to the southeast United States, found along the coastal plain from eastern Texas to southeast Virginia extending into northern and central Florida.
Longleaf Pine is also highly resistant to fire. Valued for its strength, a good specification means it is suitable for construction and staircase manufacture.