Replacement Windows, Double Glazing, Double Glazed Conservatories and FENSA Information From The Window Man UK

Hardwoods:

The main merits of the hardwoods we use are durability, and the outer parts of a hardwood tree are mostly well figured, say as is desirable for an oak door, or furniture of course. It will take a good stain and give a nice finish, but some say that one should never paint hardwood as such as it does not 'take' properly.

• The main hardwood used for frames in our industry is from the Mahogany family, which comes from tropical countries, and varies in colour from greys to reddish brown. Much of the mahogany used for windows and door frames comes from the Philippines, of which Luann is very common, and extremes of quality are found in the many varieties from the north and south islands.

• Brazil: Mahogany from here is similar to the best from the Philippines but it has a better and more uniform golden brown colour and a straighter and closer grain, and is ideal for quality hardwood windows - although if not selected and dried properly it can have a tendency to 'wind'. Funny thing: "Brazilian Cedar" is a Mahogany!

• Malaysia: Meranti is a typical Mahogany from this region and is quite reliable as a frame material and many of the budget/good priced hardwood windows and doors available from the big D.I.Y. chains sell doors made and imported from here. Also a lot of the reasonably priced (and good) hardwood garden furniture you see around is made from Meranti and generally it is a little more open grained and rougher than Luann and Brazilian Mahogany. Similar products are also made in China, although I do not know if they are imported into the UK.

Oak: For all intents and purposes I would suggest American white Oak as being the most suitable if chosen for windows/doors, as it is less knotty, is kiln dried and will last hundreds of years - and don't worry about whether it is heartwood or not. This wood costs about double the price of the conventional Mahogany used in our industry. This wood comes from several other countries, notably America  and Japan, but generally speaking English oak is regarded as the best, although it is more knotty and is generally air dried, it is heavier and very strong and hard. Oak has a range of colours and shades with the English being a pale brown, and with a virile grain. Oak must be particularly well seasoned before being used as it has a tendency to shrink and split along the grain. As the wood corrodes metal, iron and steel should not be fastened to it and that includes BrightZincPlated, but sheradised I think are ok. Left to it's own devices outside, Oak will take on an unwell looking greyish colour.

Re: Mahogany.
It is interesting to note that although we now regard of Mahogany as a quality wood, the sorry fact is that when the first Mahogany arrived in the British Isles and was used to make furniture, is was as driftwood from packing cases shipping other goods from the tropics, and ballast. Another thing: some of the nicest Mahogany can still be found and seen 'up the pub' as a great may bars were fitted out in Sapele, an African Mahogany and a superb wood. Sapele faced interior doors were very fashionable at one time, and I have to say I still like them, they are easily identifiable as such as they have a visible stripe to the grain.

Other woods of interest, but not generally used in our industry:

Beech - This is a common wood, white or pale brown in colour, it is quite hard and the grain is close. It will give a good finish if it is thoroughly seasoned and is mainly used for interior items such as chairs and chair frames, bread boards, table lamps and handles etc.

Ash - This is a tough elastic wood and is best used wherever flexibility is required. It is brownish white in colour with orange brown streaks along the grain. Can be used to 'imitate' oak, although it can give itself away if a too well figured piece is selected.

Elm - A beautifully figured reddish brown wood of fine texture which takes a finish well. It has a tendency to warp with changes of temperature and is not usually used thin because of this.

Walnut - This is a beautiful and expensive wood, brown in colour with a purpled shading. The rich veining shows up delightfully under polish and is to be admired as a showpiece on items of cabinet furniture, mostly as a veneer.

Maple - A warm yellow wood mostly imported from Canada (ever had Maple syrup?). Being close grained and hard it withstands great wear and does not warp to any appreciable degree, and for this reason is well suited for use as paneling and flooring.

Teak (Iroko) - from Burma etc. Now we are talking! This is a very superior and an expensive wood. If you have ever machined any amount of it you will now what I am talking about when I say that 'knives' last no time at all in the joinery shop! It has a distinctive and not unpleasant odour, is red brown in colour with an open grain, very heavy indeed, very strong, and can be used for any purpose where you want it to last forever. Someone once said to me that you could drop a piece of teak in a pond, fish it out 20 years later and it would still be as good as new. There is a lot of natural oil in it and so it will not take a stain well, but its quality lends itself to just about any use.

More specific information about:    Softwoods     Wooden Windows     Go to Woods main page