Typical wood species
Some typical wood species used in the building industry
Afrormosia - is a yellow-brown hardwood very similar in appearance to teak which is mainly grown in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. It is used for furniture interior and exterior joinery and cladding. It is a very durable wood however it does tend to darken on exposure and in damp conditions it reacts with iron and steel fixings etc. which causes the wood to turn black. It is particularly suitable for staining with woodstains.
Afzelia - is a reddish-brown hardwood which is imported from West Africa. It is a very durable wood used for interior and exterior joinery and also cladding. It exudes a yellow dye in damp conditions which can be a major problem in terms of staining. It can be difficult to obtain a uniform stain appearance on those areas which show scattered groups of pores containing the yellow/white deposit. Afzelia is very resistant to decay and chemical attack.
Agba - is a yellowish brown hardwood from West Africa. It is a particularly stable wood which is very resistant to decay and chemical attack. It is used for cladding, trim and joinery work in the building industry. However it can be a very troublesome wood due to gum exudation and occasional large resin pockets. However it can give good results when stained if it is properly filled with a suitable coloured wood stopper.
Ash - is a hardwood which is white to light brown in colour and widely grown in Europe and South West Asia. When first cut the timber turns pink in colour. It has a straight grain with conspicuous growth rings. Ash has good steam bending properties and is often used for interior joinery. It is particularly suitable for staining and varnishing.
Beech - is a hardwood somewhat variable in colour ranging from a whitish colour to pale brown and pinkish red when steamed (eg. for use in sports equipment etc.) It is grown in Europe and Western Asia and has straight grain with conspicuous growth rings. It is used for interior joinery flooring and plywood as well as furniture and sports equipment. Beech is not a very durable wood and so not suitable for exterior use. It is particularly suitable for staining with woodstains.
Birch - is a hardwood from Europe and North America. It ranges in colour from white to reddish brown. It is not a very durable wood and has a plain appearance. Birch has excellent bending properties and is used for interior plywood and flooring as well as furniture making. It is particularly suitable for staining with woodstains.
Cedar - the most commonly used form of cedar for building purposes is Western Red Cedar also known as British Columbia Red Cedar. It is grown in Europe and North America. Western Red Cedar is a reddish-brown non-resinous lightweight softwood with straight grain and prominent growth rings. It is very durable and often used for vertical cladding garden buildings greenhouses etc. Cedar contains oil which may impair drying hardening or adhesion of surface coatings. Staining or corrosion of iron and steel fittings etc. can also be a problem due to the acidic nature of the wood (see BS 6150:1991 25.1.4 Extractives for further information). Staining may also occur if water-based paints are applied. Cedar is a strongly scented wood with a resinous heartwood.
Chestnut - is a yellowish-brown hardwood which is extremely resistant to moisture and so very durable. It is mainly grown in Europe. Chestnut can he used for interior and exterior joinery as well as fencing. It does tend to stain when in contact with iron and steel fittings in damp conditions as it contains tannins which could cause problems in terms of appearance (see BS 6150:1991 25.1.4 Extractives for further information). Chestnut used as fencing should be treated with timber preservative. When stained or varnished chestnut joinery can give excellent results.
Douglas Fir - is also known as British Colombian Pine or Oregon Pine although botanically it is not a pine at all. It is a softwood which is a light reddish brown colour with straight grain with prominent 'flame-like' growth rings. Douglas Fir is grown in Europe North America and some parts of New Zealand. It is a very durable wood extremely resistant to moisture and is used for heavy construction work including arches and roof trusses interior and exterior joinery plywood vats and tanks in chemical plants breweries distilleries and food processing plants. Staining and corrosion can be a problem in damp conditions when metal fixings are in direct contact with the wood (see BS 6150:1991 25.1.4 Extractives for further information). Douglas Fir gives good results with most decorative finishes although grain raising can be a problem. Wood with a very high resin content should be avoided.
Hemlock - is grown in the North and West of America as well as Britain. It is a softwood which is pale brown in colour. Hemlock is not a very durable wood although it is often used for construction and joinery work. it gives good results with varnish or paint systems.
Iroko - is a hardwood from Central Africa. It is yellowish-brown in colour with an interlocked irregular grain. Iroko is sometimes mistaken for teak although it does have a coarser texture which makes it less attractive than teak. It is a very durable wood with excellent resistance to decay and moisture. It is used for interior and exterior joinery construction work and bench tops. Iroko contains extractives which can retard the drying of solvent-based paints (see BS 6150:1991 25.1.4 Extractives for further information). it can give very good results when stained or varnished. Any open grain should be filled with a suitable coloured wood stopper.
Maple - is a hardwood from North America which is very hardwearing although not very durable. it is creamy white in colour. Typical uses are timber flooring in squash courts and furniture. When planed Maple has a distinctive grain figure. It is particularly suitable for staining and varnishing.
Mahogany (African) - is an attractive reddish coloured wood with a highly-figured straight grain appearance with some interlocking grain. This may cause problems when staining if the wood has not been sawn correctly. It is used for joinery purposes in the building industry as well as furniture cabinet work and boat building. The best known timbers of this name are imported from West Africa generally Nigeria or Ghana. African Mahogany is from the khaya family. Makore and Gaboon are also West African Mahoganies.
Mahogany (American) - is very similar in appearance to African Mahogany but lighter in shade. Its uses are also very similar. The grain is straight or occasionally interlocking. American Mahogany is generally a reddish brown colour and is imported from Belize or Brazil. It is particularly suitable for staining.
Meranti - comes from South East Asia and is a Hardwood. It varies in colour from red to a yellow white. Meranti is not a particularly durable wood and is only used for interior joinery and plywood in the building industry. Meranti has lines of resin ducts that can be troublesome when treated but it does look very effective when stained or varnished.
Oak - is widely grown in Europe as well as Japan America and Tasmania. Generally Oak is a yellowish-brown hardwood with straight grain and a coarse texture. It is a very strong durable wood and very attractive. Oak is often used for interior and exterior joinery flooring gates and is traditionally used for furniture making panelling and boat building. Oak can be a difficult wood to paint due to long open pores in the grain which need to be filled. It also contains water soluble tannins which can cause staining in damp conditions and may impair the drying and hardening of solvent-based primers when metal work is in direct contact with the wood (see BS 6150:1991 25.1.4 Extractives for further information). Oak is a very attracttive wood and gives excellent results when stained or varnished.
Redwood - is also known as European Redwood Baltic Redwood Fir Scots Pine Red Pine and Red Deal. It is a softwood varying from a pale yellowish brown to red brown colour. It is mildly resinous and often contains large knots which tend to fall out during sawing. It is used for general construction work railway sleepers telegraph poles etc. The better grades of Redwood are used for joinery work. Redwood is grown in Europe Scandinavia USSR and the Artic Circle. It gives good results with paint varnish and woodstain systems.
Rubberwood - small timber blocks laminated to form sections. It should only be used for furniture making etc. It is not a suitable wood for joinery work.
Sapele - is a hardwood medium reddish brown in colour with a pronounced marked stripe in the grain. It is often used as a mahogany although it is harder stronger and more durable. Sapele is grown in West Africa which could explain why it is compared to African Mahogany. Sapele is used for furniture making interior joinery including doors both as a veneer and in solid form. It gives good results when stained or varnished.
Teak - is a hardwood golden brown in colour with straight grain which darkens on exposure. It sometimes has dark markings in the grain. Teak is a very decorative wood used extensively for furniture making. It is used for interior and exterior joinery as well as Boat Building. Teak is grown in India Burma and Thailand. It is a very durable wood and is extremely resistant to decay and chemical attack. Teak can cause problems when painted due to its oily nature (see BS 6150:1991 25.1.4 Extractives for further information). The surface should be wiped over with white spirit before painting staining or varnishing to remove surface residues. It is particularly suitable for varnishing.
Whitewood - also known as White Deal and Spruce is a softwood which ranges in colour from white to a pale yellowish-brown. It is grown in Europe Scandinavia and the USSR and is also referred to as common or Norway Spruce. Whitewood is not very durable and is only used for some interior joinery flooring and cheap furniture which is usually supplied untreated. It gives good results with most decorative finishes. It can be used for general construction work. However if used externally Whitewood must be preservative impregnated the supplier.