Durability of heartwoods
| Classification | Hardwoods | Softwoods |
|---|---|---|
| Very Durable more than 25 years |
Afrormosia Afzelia Guarea Greenheart Iroko Iron bark Jarrah Makoré Muninga Opepe Purpleheart Pyinkado Teak Turpentine |
|
| Durable 15-25 years |
Agba Chestnut, sweet Idigbo Mahogany, American Meranti, red Muhimbi Oak, European Utile |
Western red cedar Yew Sequoia (Californian redwood) |
| Moderately durable 10-15 years |
African walnut Avodiré Ayan Dahoma Guriun, Indian Keruing, Malayan Mahogany, African Oak, Turkey Sapele Walnut, European |
Douglas fir Larch, European and Japanese Pine, Caribbean pitch Pine, maritime Sequoia (home grown) Western red cedar (home grown) |
| Non-durable 5-10 years |
Elm, Dutch Elm, English Elm, Wych Oak, American red Obeche 'Silver beech' Seraya, white Sterculia, Yellow |
Douglas fir (home grown) Fir, balsam Fir, grand (home grown) Fir, silver (home grown) Hemlock, western Parana Pine Pine, Scots (home grown)* Redwood (imported)* Spruce, Eastern Canadian Spruce, European Spruce, Sitka (home grown) Whitewood |
| Perishable less than 5 years |
Abura Alder, common Ash, European Balsa Beech, European Birch, European Birch, Yellow Holly Hornbeam Horse-chestnut, European Lime, European Plane, European Ramin Sycamore Willow, crack Willow, white |
* Pinus sylvestris.
(All sapwood is either non-durable or perishable)
BRE Technical Note No. 40