Exterior Grade Timber

Treated Timber (edited version from http://www.ptgtreatments.free-online.co.uk )

Pressure treated timber

This is timber which has been impregnated with wood preservative under controlled conditions. Suitable timbers for treatment are all softwoods, commonly used hardwoods and exterior grade plywoods.

Advantages of Pressure Treated Timber

Pressure treated timber has a long service life and is protected against fungal and insect attack.

Environmental impacts that arise from the use of treated wood?

Extends the useful service life of the timber commodity and helps optimise the use of one of man’s few renewable resources

It allows wood to be used in many end use situations because it is protected from biological agencies. Otherwise, alternative materials such as concrete, steel, plastic and aluminium would be used. When considered on a life cycle basis these materials have higher negative environmental impacts than treated wood.

It can be disposed of either by land-fill or burned in an approved industrial or commercial incinerator or boiler, when the embodied energy in the timber can be realised.

HARDWOODS ( http://www.slhardwoods.com/pdf/SLHardwoods_Part2.pdf ) for images

Beech is whitish to light pink in colour. While it is a good turnery wood, it is also suitable for furniture, cabinet making and various aspects of joinery. Close grained. Tends not to splinter. Ideal for children’s toys.

Ash A light coloured wood, cream to light brown, with a bold, straight grain. It is suitable for high-class cabinet making, interior joinery as well as most aspects of furniture making, possessing a good resistance to splitting and takes stain well. Reasonably flexible. ( hockey sticks, handles for hammers, axes)

Mahogany Ranging from a yellowish through to reddish, pinkish and up to a deep brown with age, It is highly suitable for all aspects of furniture from chairs to wardrobes, as well as interior construction.

SOFTWOODS

Western Red Cedar It is ideal for rustic furniture, cabinet-making, and garden decking. It has an in built chemical that preserves it from insect attack. Often used outdoors.

Remarkably knot free, strong .

Douglas Fir is often considered to be one of the best known softwoods. Reddish brown colour. Used in window fames, ladders and indoor furniture.

Spruce (Whitewood). A softwood with a creamy yellow colour. Used both indoors and outdoors. Scaffolds, wooden containers and wardrobes.