Main Timber types used by United Windows

This page will give you a break-down of the main timbers that we use. Please feel free to enquire after any timber in which you may be interested

Types of timber

Timber sold commercially is divided into two types; hardwoods and softwoods. However, the terms bear no relation to the softness or hardness of the material. Softwoods come from coniferous, or cone-bearing trees, many of which have needle-like leaves and are mostly evergreen, eg pines and yew. Hardwoods are produced from broad-leaved trees which produce seeds contained in an enclosed case, or ovary, such as acorns or walnuts.

Timber names

Trade or common names can be misleading since the name is often used for different species in different countries or even in regions of the same country. The recommended Standard names should always be used. Some commercial names, although well recognized and widely used, are not really appropriate for the timber. In these cases, the names are often written with inverted commas, for example 'Douglas fir' which has also been called 'British Columbian pine' and 'Oregon pine' is neither a fir (Abies) nor a pine (Pinus). It belongs to a separate genus, Pseudotsuga and has the full botanical name of Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb) Franco

Pinus sylvestris

Other Names
Redwood, Scots pine, Baltic redwood, Pine

Origin
Northern, Eastern Europe

Sapwood Colour
Whitish to pale yellow

Heartwood Colour
Pale reddish brown

Grain
Straight grained, with distinct early and late wood grain

Texture
Fine and even, straight grained.

Working Properties

Entandrophragma cylindricum

Other Names
Sapeli

Origin
Central Africa

Sapwood Colour
Gray-pink or cream

Heartwood Colour
Pink when freshly cut to red-brown or purple brown

Texture
Moderate fine

Working Properties

Tree Data
Sapele is a large rain forest tree from Africa. It is reported to grow to heights of 150 feet (45 m), with trunk diameters of 48 to 72 inches (120 to 180 cm). Boles are usually clear and cylindrical to heights of 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 m). Gum canals are reported to be a natural feature in Sapele.

Distribution
The geographical range of Sapele is reported to extend from the Ivory Coast to the Cameroon, eastward through Zaire to Uganda. It is reported to be found in different forest types, including deciduous, evergreen, and transitional zones.

Quercus petraea

Other Names
French oak, Yugoslavian oak

Origin
Western, Eastern Europe

Sapwood Colour
Same as heartwood but lighter

Heartwood Colour
Yellow brown or light to dark brown

Grain
Straight grain, distinct growth rings and rays when quarter sawn

Texture
Coarse when quarter sawn

Working Properties

Malaysian Dark Red Meranti (DRM) is a well known timber in Europe particularly in countries like The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the UK where it has gained a reputation as an excellent material for the production of high class joinery products especially door and window

 frames, facades and doors. Over the last 25 years these countries have been regular buyers of Malaysian DRM and it is not surprising that European architects, interior designers and specifiers who are very familiar with this reddish brown timber and its inherent ideal properties continue to recommend this timber. DRM also has the advantage that it is readily available to consumers as over the years a well established distribution system has developed to ensure that supplies can be obtained at any time. It is usually sold kiln-dried at the required moisture content, typically 12 - 14% for the European market.

Properties of Dark Red Meranti

The timber has good machining properties as it can be easily sawn, planed, bored or turned giving smooth machined surfaces.  It also has good nailing and screw-holding properties and is easy to stain and glue.  Of even more significance is its superior durability and insulation properties compared to other timbers commonly used for window frames such as Pine, Spruce, Fir, and Hemlock.  Kiln-dried Dark Red Meranti is a stable timber and moves very little in service, an important requirement for joinery timber.  It also meets the strength requirements and has strength properties superior or comparable to other joinery timbers.

Ash is a tall tree with a large diameter ( up to 1 metre ) and  rapid growth. Its trunk is straight, smooth, with grey-green bark.
They are harvested after 80 years.

Sawn timber shows a cream-white colour, straight-grained, and fine silver grain. Its heartwood is not distinct.
Grey heart does not impair the wood's mechanical characteristics
 

David Douglas

When architects and engineers look for the best in structural timber, their first choice is often Douglas fir. It is universally recognized for its superior strength-to-weight ratio. It also provides excellent nail-holding and fastening capability that is documented with a superior performance record against wind, storms and earthquakes. 

In strength properties, Douglas fir has the highest ratings of any western softwood for extreme fiber stress in bending; tension parallel-to-grain; horizontal sheer; compression perpendicular-to-grain and compression parallel-to-grain. 

It also has the highest modulus of elasticity (E) values of all North American softwood species. E is the ratio of the amount a piece of timber will deflect in proportion to an applied load. This reflection of stiffness is one of the most important considerations in the design of floors and other horizontal systems. Douglas fir is often selected for four- and five-storey timber frame buildings. 

Because of its physical working properties, as well as the moderate durability of its heartwood, and its excellent dimensional stability, all combine to provide the reasons why many builders worldwide prefer Douglas fir for framing timbers. It is truly the ideal, general-purpose softwood species for timber framing in residential, light commercial, multi-storey and industrial construction, and for structural formwork applications.

Wide choice of quality natural wood, ranging from Scandinavian Pine to hardwoods, harvested from well-managed forests.

Highly flexible system providing a quality solution for all your needs.

United Windows reserve the right to alter or modify technical specifications due to continuous development and improvement without prior notice.

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